Let's Talk AI: The Documentary

How do we make sure everyone has a voice in conversations about artificial intelligence?

Let’s Talk AI started with a simple idea: if AI is becoming part of everyday life, people need clear information and a chance to ask questions about how it affects them.

Led by Dr Susan Oman at the University of Sheffield, the campaign grew from research and community workshops with people across the UK. Their questions, worries and experiences shaped a series of webtoons, illustrated by Kitty McEwan, which explore topics including AI in everyday life, schools and the media.

This documentary follows the journey of Let’s Talk AI from those early conversations to a much bigger public campaign. It charts how Margaret Colling’s idea to take AI information to bus stops developed into a national conversation, and how the project reached Parliament, international AI events, BBC Breakfast and the United Nations AI for Good Summit in Geneva.

Along the way, the film asks an important question: who gets to understand, discuss and influence the future of AI? The team meets a range of members of the public, all bringing different hopes and concerns about how artificial intelligence should develop.

At its heart, Let’s Talk AI is about AI literacy and public participation. It shows why conversations about artificial intelligence should not be limited to experts, governments or technology companies, and why people need the knowledge and confidence to take part in decisions that increasingly affect everyday life.