The Universities of Wisconsin system has rolled out a video series intended to provide the public with a basic AI primer. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesThe Universities of Wisconsin System has created a free online video series intended to give the public basic information about generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).Created in partnership with the UW Credit Union, the AI Skills Access Passport (ASAP) offers a starting point for people who want to learn the fundamentals about how AI works. Aimed at adults, the seven videos — each about two minutes in length — explain how AI is being used, its strengths and weaknesses, and some of the risks it poses. There are no formal assignments associated with the ASAP. Viewer participation is not graded, and the series carries no course credit.“As the Universities of Wisconsin look to prioritize AI education, through dedicated majors, AI-literacy integration, focused AI faculty talent recruitment and industry partnerships, we also want to do our part to extend that knowledge outward – to provide all Wisconsinites with a foundational knowledge about AI that they can choose to build on,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman, in a university release. “This learning opportunity is another example of how the Universities of Wisconsin serve the state.”The new series can be found at wisconsin.edu/asap. Here are UW’s official summaries of the seven episodes and links to each:Episode 1: What AI Actually Does. AI generates content by predicting patterns, enabling new text, images, and audio. Powerful but imperfect, it requires user judgment to verify accuracy.Episode 2: Where You’ll See AI. AI-created articles, images, audio, and deepfakes are widespread. Stay safe by verifying sources and using safeguards like family code words.MORE FOR YOUEpisode 3: Good Uses for AI. AI supports brainstorming, drafting, and learning by offering options and explanations. It’s a thinking aid, not a replacement for personal judgment.Episode 4: How to Get Better Answers. AI gives better answers when you provide specifics, refine responses, and rephrase questions. Treat it like a conversation where clearer direction leads to better results.Episode 5: Protect Your Information. Never share personal, sensitive, or identifying information with AI. Protect passwords, documents, photos, and family details. When uncertain, leave it out entirely.Episode 6: AI Makes Mistakes. AI can produce confident but incorrect answers, called hallucinations. Always verify important information using trusted sources before acting on anything AI provides.Episode 7: Understanding AI’s Limits. AI can help you prepare, but not decide. For health, legal, or financial decisions, rely on licensed professionals and remember AI’s limitations and safety rules.Earlier this year, Rothman wrote an op-ed in which he claimed that AI was “no longer just an abstract concept in our distant future. It’s here now, shaping classrooms, research labs, clinics, business and homes — and it’s here to stay.”He added that the Universities of Wisconsin needed to ensure that “every student, every family, and every employer can benefit from AI in ways that are responsible, practical, and ethically sound.” And he outlined how the UW System was preparing its students to integrate AI into their learning and research, while at the same time developing policies about privacy, fairness, transparency, and trust; and partnering with business and industry to conduct AI research to “accelerate innovation that strengthens Wisconsin’s economy and improves quality of life statewide.”