OUT NOW! ‘Exploring the AI Jungle’ Picture book & Teachers’ Guide
by Elspeth Maxwell
Creating ‘Exploring the AI Jungle’ with brilliant authors and collaborators Judy Robertson and Laura Meagher has been an incredible experience. Our project began with a simple idea—to create an infographic explaining the role of GenAI in education, inspired by Laura’s research. This seed of an idea flourished into a full-fledged picture book brimming with creativity, humour, and insight. We’re excited to finally share the book with the world!
Exploring the AI Jungle is a collaboration between three people: Judy, a computer scientist; Laura, a biologist; and me, a visual designer. From the beginning—as Laura, Judy, and I explored the most effective ways to convey the findings of Laura’s report—we felt as though we were venturing into unknown territory together. There was no fixed destination, just plenty of possibilities waiting to be explored. That’s when the metaphor clicked: what if we used the concept of a dense jungle, teeming with unknown creatures, to explore and explain AI in schools? It was like we’d stumbled upon a shaft of sunlight filtering through the trees onto a hidden trail. We knew we were onto something special!
The first edition of ‘Exploring the AI Jungle’ is finally here! The book explains some basic facts about how GenAI could be used in schools. It uses the metaphor of a jungle to think about what AI can and can’t do, and how it could be used in education.
Our idea was to create a book that would not only explain basic facts about AI and how it could be used in schools, but also encourage young people to reflect on their own feelings about AI and its place in education. This book wouldn’t exist without the unique timing of this moment, and the collaboration stemming from Laura’s research and Judy’s guidance and insight. Exploring the AI Jungle can be used as a starting point for conversations that matter to all of us. I know that every time I talk about it, I feel this rush of enthusiasm—it opens up meaningful discussions, no matter who I’m talking with.
From a design perspective, I wanted the picture book to be beautifully crafted and visually intriguing, bringing Judy’s words to life—the kind of book I would have loved to hold and read as a young person.
Photographs of jungle creatures bring metaphors to life.
Today, people growing up with AI face real questions about its benefits, limitations, and potential harms. This is why the jungle metaphor is so powerful; it gives us a way to explore these issues in a creative, open, and human-centred way.
There are some in the creative industry who feel, at best, ambivalent about AI-generated imagery. Especially with the recent surge of AI-generated images online and in the media, which is something I personally find uncanny and unsettling. This is why I decided to use photography for the book, and it was important to me to call out the talented photographers whose work helped us illustrate the jungle metaphors in an engaging way.
Nonetheless, I was determined to use GenAI software in some capacity for this project. What better way to explore GenAI’s creative potential, than to actually put it to the test? So I set myself a challenge: I asked ChatGPT to suggest jungle creatures as metaphors to help me illustrate each of Judy’s points. The results were a mixed bag—some answers were glib but contained the kernel of an idea, while others took a detour into the absurd. Luckily, we had Laura, our trusty zoologist, to bring us back to reality. You’ll have to read the book to find out about some of ChatGPT’s wilder hallucinations!
I set myself a challenge to ask ChatGPT to suggest jungle creatures as metaphors for each of Judy’s points. Laura pointed out that ChatGPT referred to itself in the first person, so we name-checked it in the book’s foreword!
My intention is not to come down on any side of any particular debate about AI and creativity. I’m fascinated by the potential of GenAI, especially when it comes to creating and generating visuals. I imagine younger generations of designers using aspects of AI in their work, much as we use design software or photography today. For me, GenAI isn’t here to replace human ingenuity; it’s just another tool in our creative toolbox.
The teachers’ guide, filled with resources and suggestions, is the perfect companion to the picturebook. It’s designed to get students—and teachers—thinking about AI’s present and future role in the classroom.
One of the most appealing aspects of Exploring the AI Jungle, and the teachers’ guide that accompanies it, is that Judy’s warmth and humour shines throughout. An early reviewer told us, ‘I gave my son your book, he felt very special. He’s been reading it when he comes home from school, and we’ve been using different tools together to explore some of the points in the book. The glue pizza made him laugh a lot!’
‘The glue pizza made him laugh a lot!’ – one of our favourite early reader stories. We love hearing how this book is sparking conversation between young learners! #ExploreJungleAI
‘There’s nothing out there like this.’
One reader even told us, “There’s nothing out there like this.” And they’re right. This book and guide couldn’t have existed before now. It’s a product of this moment, released at the perfect time to spark conversations about GenAI’s role in education.
We think that upper-primary school children will enjoy this book (aged 10-12 years), but you may find it works with other groups of learners. The main text on each page was intended to be as clear as possible to put across key ideas, while the text highlighted in colour is designed to be slightly more information-dense to satisfy those learners who seek out information like monkeys foraging for fruit. The teachers’ guide is packed with more information and resource suggestions—if you work in a school, feel free to give a copy to particularly voracious monkeys in your class!
As Judy notes and Laura’s research shows, AI technologies are evolving at a rapid pace, but educators and policy makers must take the time to think carefully about how AI could be used in learning so they can get the approach right in the medium/long term. Exploring the AI Jungle and its teachers’ guide are intended to be used as resources for teachers and policymakers in Scotland.
This book is our way of contributing to that ongoing conversation, offering an exploration of the jungle of AI in education—its incredible potential, as well as its possible pitfalls. ·
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To get your print edition of Exploring the AI Jungle—and the teachers’ guide—email Jo.Spiller@ed.ac.uk or order your copies from the links below! Join the conversation about the future of GenAI in education #ExploreJungleAI
Picture book: https://mixam.co.uk/print-on-demand/66e835418949226f239afc0e
Teachers’ guide: https://mixam.co.uk/print-on-demand/66e846c9c6d8a56771f7b611
