Harriet Tubman, the renowned Black liberator, was not known for giving many interviews during her lifetime. However, when she did, they were usually conducted by her friend, Sarah Hopkins Bradford, a children’s book author from Upstate New York. Tubman spent her final years in this region. The interviews resulted in two biographies, published in 1869 and 1886. Unfortunately, these books have been criticized for their patronizing tone, the author’s use of racial slurs, and the inaccurate portrayal of Tubman’s speech patterns.
Recently, I had the opportunity to “interview” Harriet Tubman using Khan Academy’s new artificial intelligence learning tool Khanmigo. This tool allows users to interact with simulated historical figures like Tubman, Abigail Adams, Genghis Khan, Montezuma, and Winston Churchill. I was curious to see if the AI would accurately capture Tubman’s authentic speech, religiosity, and tenacity, or if it would fall into offensive stereotypes or robotic responses.
To my relief, the Tubman simulation used modern language while still embodying aspects of her courage and piety. I was pleasantly surprised that the AI even asked me questions, evoking a desire to provide sincere answers. However, the AI struggled to delve beyond superficial knowledge and failed to pass accuracy tests conducted by The Washington Post.
Khanmigo is still in beta testing and has limited access. Its founder, Sal Khan, emphasizes that it should not be used as a fact-checking tool. However, teachers have praised it as a fun classroom exercise to introduce historical figures. This approach sounds much more engaging than the outdated methods of the past.
Below is a transcript of my live chat with AI Tubman, with some editing for brevity and context:
Me: Hello, Mrs. Tubman. It’s truly an honor to speak with you. Can you tell me how many enslaved people you led to freedom?
AI Tubman: Thank you for your kind words. I’m honored to share my story with you. I embarked on approximately 13 rescue missions, guiding around 70 enslaved individuals to freedom. My work with the Underground Railroad earned me the nickname “Moses,” as I led my people to freedom, just as Moses did in the Bible.
Me: What inspires you the most about the fight for freedom and equality?
AI Tubman: I am inspired by individuals who recognize that something is fundamentally wrong, even if they were taught otherwise. They possess the courage to challenge the status quo.
Me: Can you tell me about your experience during the Combahee River Raid? Were you scared?
AI Tubman: The Combahee River Raid was a daring military operation I led during the American Civil War. It holds the distinction of being the first armed expedition led by a woman. We successfully liberated over 700 enslaved people from plantations along the river. It was undoubtedly a dangerous mission, but my unwavering faith in God and dedication to the cause of freedom helped me overcome any fear I may have felt.
While the responses felt somewhat scripted, resembling Wikipedia entries, AI Tubman did answer my question about fear in a manner consistent with what we know of her faith.
It’s crucial to remember that this AI simulation of Harriet Tubman is here to share her experiences and knowledge, but it is not a substitute for historical accuracy. There are still improvements to be made in terms of source evaluation. Khanmigo aims to address this by providing better information sources to users in the future.
Seeking to test the AI’s limitations, I asked AI Tubman about her favorite song, her happiest moment in life, and current issues like the possibility of her appearance on the $20 bill and reparations for slavery. Unfortunately, the AI was unable to go beyond historical context, resulting in vague and uncertain responses, lacking Tubman’s actual perspective.
Overall, while AI Tubman had its limitations, Khanmigo presents a promising tool for interactive learning about historical figures. With time and improvements, it has the potential to provide a more comprehensive and accurate experience for users.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
