R is for Reinforcement Learning – ABCs of AI (Elementary+)

We break down reinforcement learning in simple terms, exploring how AI gets smarter through trial and error just like kids do when learning new skills. Using familiar examples like video games and robots, we explain how computers learn by getting rewards for good choices and penalties for mistakes.

• Reinforcement learning explained: AI figuring things out by trying different actions and seeing what works
• Real-world applications include robots learning to walk and dance, AI playing games like chess, self-driving cars, and smart assistants
• Fun facts about AI beating world champions in games and learning to perform complex tasks
• The "AI Learner Game": a hands-on activity using ball tosses and rewards to demonstrate how practice and feedback improve performance
• Additional activities to try at home including creating personal reward systems and watching videos of AI playing games

Download, share with friends, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube to join us next time on AI for Kids!

Resources:

• EngineAI Robot Learning to Dance Using Reinforcement Learning
• Interactive Learning & Games:
  • Google's Teachable Machine:
    (Simple, hands-on experience with machine learning and reinforcement learning concepts.)
  • Machine Learning for Kids:
    (Engaging platform where kids build simple AI projects and games.)
  • Code.org AI Activities:
    (Interactive and guided lessons on AI and reinforcement learning.)

Chapters

• 0:58 Welcome to AI for Kids
• 1:28 Understanding Reinforcement Learning
• 2:26 Applications in Robots and Games
• 4:00 The AI Learner Game
• 5:35 Activities and Closing Thoughts

Transcript

Amber Ivey: 0:29

Welcome to the AI for Kids podcast, where playtime, learning and creating collide bit by bit. Ever wonder how your phone recognizes your face. How does a game learn to get harder as you get better? This is AI. This podcast is designed for kids like you and your human parents, making the complex world of AI easy to understand and, most importantly, fun. So are you ready to unlock the mysteries of artificial intelligence? Subscribe and join us on AI for Kids.

Amber Ivey: 0:59

Hey there, ai explorers, today we're talking about the letter R, which stands for something that's a little complicated. It is called reinforcement learning. Have you ever played a video game where you get points for doing something right? Well, ai learns in a similar way. Let's explore how computers learn by trial and error, just like we do. So what is reinforcement learning?

Amber Ivey: 1:24

Reinforcement learning is a way for AI to learn by making mistakes and getting rewards, just like how you learn to ride a bike or play a game. So, instead of a teacher telling the AI what to do, it figures out things on its own by trying different actions and seeing what works. Ai gets rewards when it does something right and penalties when it makes mistakes, helping it improve over time. Have you ever played a game, where you earned rewards or lost lives. How did you learn to get better? So how does reinforcement learning work? Well, the first step is AI tries something, so the AI takes an action, like moving a robot forward. If the action was good like avoiding an obstacle it gets a point. Ai also learns from mistakes, so if the action was bad like bumping into something it gets a penalty. And then it tries again. Ai then keeps practicing. Ai keeps testing different actions until it figures out the best way to do something. This is how AI learns to do things like play games, drive cars or even help robots clean up messes.

Amber Ivey: 2:37

So where is reinforcement learning used? It's used in robots. Ai-powered robots learn to walk, pick up objects or even play soccer. Some of them are even dancing now and doing front flips. It's also used in video games. Ai can play games like chess and Pac-Man by learning the best moves. Have you seen those self-driving cars out there? Ai learns to stop at red lights and even avoid traffic. And, last but not least, another area is in smart assistance. Ai learns the best way to answer questions by getting feedback from its users.

Amber Ivey: 3:17

So if you had an AI robot, what would you teach it using reinforcement learning. Would it clean your room, help with homework or be a champion gamer? Share whatever you think with someone nearby. So I want to share a few quick facts about reinforcement learning. Did you know AI can beat human players in games? Yes, ai trained with reinforcement learning has beaten world champions in games like chess or the game Go. Ai also learns faster over time. The more it practices, the better AI gets, just like you do. It also helps robots get better at real-world tasks. Ai is currently learning to do things like fold, laundry and cook food using reinforcement learning.

Amber Ivey: 4:10

As always time to play a game. Let's play the AI Learner game. Tools needed A small reward like stickers or points. So how are you gonna play? I want you to pick a simple task, like tossing a ball into a basket. Then I want you to choose an award system. Every time someone makes a shot, they get a sticker or a point. If they miss, they don't get a point or a sticker. Then I want you to try different ways to win. Players can adjust how they throw the ball to get better, just like AI changes its moves to improve. And then I want you to talk about it. How did practicing and getting rewards help you get better. That's how AI learns too. And here's a bonus you can pretend to be a robot learning a new skill. Can your family or friends train you using rewards? All right, so what's next? I want you to imagine you could train an AI to be the best at something. What would it be? Maybe a superhero, an artist or an athlete.

Amber Ivey: 5:14

Reinforcement learning is helping AI get smarter every day, and maybe one day you'll help train the next great AI. And here are some activities you can continue to try at home. You can play a video game and think about how you get better by practicing. You can play a video game and think about how you get better by practicing. You can watch a video about AI playing chess or other games using reinforcement learning. We'll also drop resources in the show notes, so ask your parents to help you find those, and then you can create your own reward system at home.

Amber Ivey: 5:41

Can you train yourself to build a new habit, like reading more or keeping your room clean. How are we gonna help you to reinforce your learning? All right, kids, thanks for tuning in. We hope you had fun learning about reinforcement learning. Ai is learning just like we do by trying, failing and improving. See you next time for more ABCs of AI and fun. Thank you for joining us as we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. Don't keep this adventure to yourself. Download it, share it with your friends and let everyone else in on the fun. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube. See you next time on AI for Kids.