"How Do I Know I Can Trust ChatGPT?": Using AI in Everyday Life, and Knowing When to Double-Check It

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT are becoming part of everyday life, from searching for information and writing emails to getting health, legal, financial, or educational advice. But how do we know when these tools are helpful, and when we should be cautious? This talk offers a practical introduction to how generative AI works, what it can and cannot do, and why it sometimes makes mistakes. We will discuss common uses of AI, the risks of overtrusting it, and simple strategies for asking better questions, checking answers, and deciding when human judgment is still essential. The talk will also explore how developing AI literacy can help people use AI more confidently, critically, and responsibly. Audience will leave with a better understanding of how to evaluate AI-generated information and how to make informed choices about using AI in daily life.

Bio:

Nikola Banovic, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and an Associate Director of the Michigan Institute for Data & AI in Society (MIDAS). He conducts research in Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (AI), focusing on the design and evaluation of AI explanation mechanisms that can help develop or improve AI literacy of end-users who lack computer science backgrounds. His work helps end-users critically reflect on strengths and limitations of AI-based systems, enabling them to decide when and how to use such computational technology. Before joining the University of Michigan, Nikola received his Ph.D. degree from the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) at Carnegie Mellon University, and his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of Toronto. Nikola’s work has been recognized with an NSF CAREER award, and paper awards at premier Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) conferences.