Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- apprehension /ap-ri-HEN-shuhn/
- contentious /kuhn-TEN-shuhs/
- proactive /proh-AK-tiv/
- paradigm shift /PAR-uh-dahym shift/
- robust /roh-BUHST/
[noun] – a feeling of worry or fear that something bad may happen
She felt apprehension before speaking to a large audience.
[adjective] – causing or likely to cause disagreement
The plan became contentious because not everyone agreed with it.
[adjective] – taking action by causing change and not only reacting to change when it happens
The teacher was proactive in helping students before they failed.
[noun] – a total change in the way people think about or do something
Online learning created a paradigm shift in education.
[adjective] – a stronger and more reliable protection for younger audiences
The new policy provides a robust defense against cyberattacks.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
YouTube launched a new artificial intelligence system in the United States on August 13, 2025, to estimate whether viewers are adults or minors by examining the types of videos they watched. The initial phase involved only a small portion of viewers but was expected to expand nationwide if results matched the system’s previous performance in other countries. The AI check operated only for logged-in users and assessed ages regardless of the birth date provided during account creation. YouTube, owned by Google for nearly two decades, applied its existing safeguards when the system determined that a viewer was under 18.
These safeguards included reminders to take breaks from the screen, privacy alerts, and blocked access to certain video recommendations. Ads tailored to personal preferences were also disabled for accounts identified as belonging to minors. If a viewer was incorrectly classified, age could be verified using a government-issued ID, a credit card, or a selfie. Experts indicated that the goal was to enhance safety protections while maintaining user privacy. Some digital rights organizations expressed apprehension about potential effects on personal data and freedom of expression. Despite these contentious discussions, YouTube’s proactive adoption of AI in this area was seen as a paradigm shift in age control technology, providing a more robust safeguard for younger audiences and supporting a safer online environment.
These safeguards included reminders to take breaks from the screen, privacy alerts, and blocked access to certain video recommendations. Ads tailored to personal preferences were also disabled for accounts identified as belonging to minors. If a viewer was incorrectly classified, age could be verified using a government-issued ID, a credit card, or a selfie. Experts indicated that the goal was to enhance safety protections while maintaining user privacy. Some digital rights organizations expressed apprehension about potential effects on personal data and freedom of expression. Despite these contentious discussions, YouTube’s proactive adoption of AI in this area was seen as a paradigm shift in age control technology, providing a more robust safeguard for younger audiences and supporting a safer online environment.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever used a website that asked for your age? If so, how did it check? If not, how do you think it would check?
- Have you ever felt worried about online safety? If so, what happened? If not, how would you protect yourself?
- Do you agree that AI can make the internet safer for young people?
- What could happen if an AI system makes too many mistakes in age checks?
- How might new technology change the way people use the internet in the future?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- system
- initial
- safeguard
- preference
- environment