Remember: Computers can fake pictures, videos and voices. Check the source, ask for the family word, and tell a grown-up.
Tomas, Pop and the surprise
Read the story first, then answer.
The voice that sounded like PopEvery Saturday, Tomas's grandpa, Pop, made pancakes while the parrot, Gumbo, copied every sound. One Saturday his cousin Lucia held up her tablet. It showed a cat as big as a bus. Tomas looked closer. One paw had an extra toe, and the letters on the bus stop sign were jumbled. "I made it," laughed Lucia. "Well, a computer did." After lunch a voice message came from an unknown number. It sounded just like Pop, warm and a little scratchy. "I am in a fix, and I need money right now," it said. "Buy a gift card, send me the code, and do not tell anyone." Then Tomas heard clink, clink and humming from the kitchen. It was Pop, washing the pan, safe and fine. Tomas bought nothing and sent no reply. He carried the tablet to Pop. "That is not me," said Pop. "It is a copy of my voice. You are never in trouble, because you came and told me." They picked a family word, for family only. And if Tomas is not sure, he will hang up and call back on the number he already knows.
1
Circle every clue in Lucia's cat picture.
An extra toe on a pawA sunny skyJumbled letters on a signA balloon
2
Join each kind of fake to a clue.
1A picture
2A video
3A voice
Athe mouth does not match the words
Bit asks for money, a hurry or "do not tell"
Cjumbled letters on a sign
3
A voice that sounds just like Pop must be Pop.
TrueFalse
4
Number what Tomas did.
Heard the voice message
Picked a family word with Pop
Bought nothing and sent no reply
Showed Pop the message
Check the source
5
Circle every sign of a trick voice message.
It asks for gift card codesIt says do not tell anyoneIt comes from an unknown numberIt says hello kindlyIt says wait, call me back
6
Hang up and call back on the number you know, not the one that called.
7
A fun fake, like Gumbo in space, is fine when it is labeled.
TrueFalse
8
Tomas says: "This picture has no odd hands or text, so it is real for sure." Is Tomas right?
YesNo
9
You are not sure about a picture. What is the big step?
Count how many likes it hasShare it so friends can check itCheck the source: where did it come from?
10
Stretch: A caller says they are family and need money now. Write what you would ask for (do not write your own family word) and who you would tell.
11
Draw a phone with a big hang-up button.
Scan the code at the top to mark this sheet on screenTake a photo of your answers or type them. It is marked for you automatically, and your score is kept.
Answer key · Set A
Spotting AI fakes
1An extra toe on a paw, Jumbled letters on a sign The cat had an extra toe, and the letters on the sign were jumbled. A sunny sky or a balloon shows nothing.
21-C, 2-A, 3-B Pictures show odd hands, text or shadows. Videos may have a mouth that misses the words. For a voice, listen for money, a hurry or "do not tell."
3False A computer can copy a voice from a short recording. What it asks for is the clue.
41, 4, 2, 3 Tomas bought nothing and sent no reply, carried the tablet to Pop, and then they picked a family word.
5It asks for gift card codes, It says do not tell anyone, It comes from an unknown number Money or codes, "do not tell," and an unknown number were the clues in the voice message.
6already Use the number you already know, not the one that called.
7True Lucia added a note in the corner: made by a computer. A labeled fun fake is fine.
8No Fakes keep getting better, and some have no clues at all. No clue does not mean real. Keep checking the source.
9Check the source: where did it come from? Check who posted it, and whether places your family trusts show the same thing. Do not pass a fake on.
10Your own words: a grown-up reads it.
Mark each answer, count the right ones and write the score on the sheet.