This 2 page downloadable one-lesson project uses a real and provocative contemporary case — the appointment of an AI system to a government role — to help students explore power, authority, and accountability in the age of artificial intelligence.

Designed using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach, the lesson provides clear background context before guiding students through structured closed and open questioning. Learners begin with focused yes/no questions that prompt clear positions, then move into deeper discussion about fairness, trust, bias, human oversight, and responsibility when decisions go wrong. Open-ended questions encourage students to justify their views, listen to others, and refine their own thinking.

The resource requires minimal preparation and includes stimulus material, debate questions, and philosophical reflection prompts to support thoughtful, balanced dialogue. It develops critical thinking, ethical reasoning, speaking and listening skills, and civic understanding within a single, flexible session.

Ideal for upper primary or secondary classrooms, this ready-to-use lesson empowers students to form and articulate their own informed opinions about whether AI should ever hold positions of authority, and what limits — if any — should be placed on its power.