AI for Staying Connected
What You'll Learn
- •Use AI translation tools to communicate across languages.
- •Use AI to preserve and share family stories.
- •Understand AI features in social media and video calling.
AI Translation Tools
AI has made language barriers much less of an obstacle.
Google Translate: Free app that can translate text, voice, and even images (point your camera at a sign or menu in another language). Supports over 130 languages.
Apple Translate: Built into iPhones and iPads. Works offline for many languages, so you do not need internet access when traveling.
Real-time conversation mode: Both Google Translate and Apple Translate have a conversation mode where two people can speak in different languages and see real-time translations, making it possible to have a real conversation across language barriers.
Samsung Live Translate: Samsung Galaxy phones can translate phone calls in real time, with each speaker hearing the conversation in their own language.
Preserving Family Stories with AI
AI offers powerful tools for capturing and preserving your family's history and memories.
Transcription: Record yourself telling family stories and use AI to transcribe them into written text. Apple's Voice Memos and Google's Recorder apps can do this automatically. You can then edit the text into a family history document.
StoryWorth: A service that sends you weekly questions about your life and compiles your answers into a bound book.
Photo enhancement: AI can restore old family photographs, sharpen blurry images, and even colorize black-and-white photos.
Organizing memories: AI can help you organize photos, letters, and documents into a timeline or family tree.
AI in Video Calling
Video calling apps have added AI-powered features that are particularly helpful.
Background blur and replacement: If your room is messy, AI can blur or replace your background on Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Meet.
Noise cancellation: AI filters out background noise so the person you are calling can hear you clearly, even if there is a TV on or traffic outside.
Auto-framing: Some devices use AI to keep your face centered in the frame, even if you move around.
Live captions: AI can provide real-time captions during video calls, which is helpful if you have difficulty hearing.
Social Media AI Features and Privacy
Social media platforms use AI extensively. Facebook and Instagram use AI to decide which posts appear in your feed. AI generates "Memories" or "On This Day" posts from your past photos. AI moderates content, flagging posts that may violate community guidelines.
To protect your privacy on social media, periodically review your privacy settings, be cautious about what personal information you share in posts, and remember that anything you post may be used by the platform's AI to build a profile of your interests and preferences.
Try It Yourself
Try one of these: (1) Download Google Translate and use the camera feature to translate text in your environment — point it at a label, a menu, or a document in another language. (2) Record yourself telling a favorite family story using your phone's voice recorder, then see if your phone can transcribe it to text. (3) During your next video call, try turning on live captions.
Discussion Questions
Is there a family story or memory you have been wanting to preserve? How might AI help?
Do you have family members who speak a different language? How could AI translation help you connect with them?
Knowledge Check
Answer 2 out of 3 questions correctly to unlock "Mark as Complete."
Which app lets you translate a sign or foreign menu just by pointing your phone camera at it?
Complete the knowledge check above to unlock this button.