Communicating AI Research: The Basics
Course: Bridging Technical Innovation and Public Understanding
Instructor: Katherine Gorman [email protected]
Part 1: The Problem
What's Actually Happening?
Major advances in AI are driving huge societal changes at an unprecedented pace. We're not just experiencing one transformation - we're living through multiple simultaneous revolutions that compound and amplify each other.
Domestication of Technology
A fundamental sea change in how technology integrates into our daily lives, making AI as commonplace as electricity.
Industrial Revolution
Economic and labor transformations comparable to the shift from agrarian to manufacturing economies.
Making Everything "Totally Nuts"
The pace and scope of change creating unprecedented uncertainty and anxiety across all sectors.
But why is it MORE nuts than previous technological shifts? The answer lies in a single, powerful word.
The Power of the Word "Intelligence"
"Intelligence is at the heart of what we believe makes humans special and therefore intelligence forces us into a state of anthropomorphizing...it has the power to enchant us, it has the power to change the context of the thing that we're talking about without us even realizing it."
— Ken Anderson, American University
Intelligence holds a very special place for humans. It's fundamentally tied to our self-conception and identity as a species. When we apply this word to machines, it:
  • Sits at the heart of what we believe makes humans special and unique
  • Forces us into anthropomorphizing without our conscious awareness
  • Secretly changes the context and emotional weight of our conversation
  • Creates expectations and fears that may not align with technical reality
Visual Evidence: Our First Flags Are Broken
The way we visualize AI reveals how deeply we've fallen into narrative traps. We're consistently using imagery that has nothing to do with the actual research being conducted, setting up narrative traps we can't even see. These visual metaphors prime audiences to think about AI in ways that may be fundamentally disconnected from reality.
Even We Fall Into These Traps
Consider Andrew Ng's Machine Learning course icon on Coursera: a friendly robot with graduation cap, diploma, and textbooks. This is a course designed to open the gates to actual technical knowledge and democratize understanding of machine learning algorithms and mathematics.
Yet we're using the exact same misleading visual metaphors that we criticize in mainstream media. If we want the public conversation to change, we have to start by looking for the traps we're falling into ourselves.
Part 2: Understanding Your Audience
The Matrix of Enchanted Thinking
This framework helps you understand where your audience is positioned - and critically, where you are positioned. Understanding this distance is essential for effective communication.
These two axes create four quadrants that capture different perspectives on AI and its future impact.
Plot Yourself
Where are you on these axes? Be honest about your own biases and beliefs.
Plot Your Audience
Where do you think they are? Research and observe before assuming.
Measure the Distance
Understand the gap between you - this reveals the challenge ahead.
Plan Your Bridge
How much effort will it take to move them toward your position?
Katherine's Position
"Utopian and everyday"
  • AI will help with routine tasks
  • It will process more information than I can consume
  • It will recommend movies, improve speech-to-text
  • Practical, incremental improvements to daily life
Common Public Position
"Sci-Fi and Dystopian"
  • Robots taking over the world
  • Mass job displacement and unemployment
  • AGI concerns and existential risk
  • Loss of human agency and control

Your job when communicating: You can't get people to take action until you're in the same place and can move together. Communication isn't just about transmitting information - it's about bridging positions and creating shared understanding.
Know Your Audience: The Five W's
Before any communication attempt, you must systematically answer these fundamental questions. This preparation determines whether your message lands or falls flat.
WHO
Who exactly is in your audience? Other researchers in your field? Scientists from other disciplines? Policymakers? General public? Industry stakeholders? Each requires different language and framing.
WHAT
What do they need from this communication? Technical details? Big picture understanding? Actionable recommendations? Reassurance about safety? Your content must match their needs, not just your preferences.
WHEN
What's the timing and context? Conference presentation? Media interview? Grant application? Public lecture? The timing shapes expectations and attention spans dramatically.
WHERE
What's the venue or medium? Academic conference? Podcast interview? Written article? Social media? Each platform has different norms, constraints, and opportunities.
WHY
Why does this matter to them specifically? How does your work affect their lives or work? What problem does it solve for them? Why should they care enough to pay attention and remember?
If you know your audience through this framework, you should have crystal-clear answers to:
  1. Your specific goals and objectives for this communication
  1. The gap between where they are now and where you want them to be
  1. What concrete action will bridge that gap effectively
Part 3: Story Structure Basics
Why Structure Matters
"Present information in a clear, structured way will help your audience retain important and complicated details. Presenting information in an easily consumable way lets you control the conversation."
Structure isn't just about aesthetics or following rules - it's about cognition and retention. The human brain naturally looks for patterns and narratives. When you provide clear structure, you're working with how people think rather than against it.

The lesson: Content matters enormously, but structure predicts success. You can have brilliant insights, but if they're not structured effectively, they won't land with your audience.
Simple Three-Part Story Algorithm
When you're starting out or feeling overwhelmed, return to this fundamental structure. It works for everything from conference talks to media interviews to grant applications.
1
BEGINNING
(Set the stage)
Context: What's the current situation? What's the landscape?
Characters: Who's involved? These can be people, concepts, or technologies - anything that plays a role in your story.
2
MIDDLE
(Create tension)
Problem: What is the core challenge or question?
Change: What is shifting or evolving? Why does this matter now?
3
END
(Resolution)
Future state: What will the world look like after these changes?
Action: What should the audience do with this information?
Freytag's Pyramid Applied
The classical dramatic structure can be mapped directly to storytelling phrases that feel natural and familiar:
This maps to the narrative flow: Once upon a time...Every day...One day...Because of that...Until finally...
This structure works because it mirrors how we naturally process information and remember stories. It creates anticipation, maintains engagement, and provides satisfying resolution.
The Weinsheck Structure (For Presentations)
For formal presentations, this three-part structure provides more specific guidance for each section:
OPENING
  • Current State
  • Consequence
  • Solution
Brief overview that orients the audience
BODY
  • Current State (detailed)
  • Consequence (detailed)
  • Solution (detailed)
Deep dive with evidence and examples
CLOSING
  • Call to Action
What do you want the audience to DO?

Critical insight: Start by deciding your CALL TO ACTION (the end), then work backwards. If you don't know what you want people to do with your information, they certainly won't know either.
Practical Examples
Personal Research Story
Beginning: Why are you motivated to do this work? What's the context that makes it important?
Middle: What are the larger questions you're asking? Use metaphors to explain complex technical details in accessible ways.
End: What are possible applications? Be careful about extrapolation - always provide context about limitations and timeframes.
AI Safety Story
Beginning: These fears are not new; this conversation has historical precedent across multiple technological revolutions.
Middle: Intelligence is a moving target - what we mean by "intelligence" keeps evolving as our capabilities expand.
End: We don't know exactly what these problems will look like, which is why careful, ongoing research and communication are essential.
Part 4: Practical Tips
Working with the Media
Media interactions require special preparation and awareness. Journalists operate under different constraints and have different goals than researchers. Understanding these differences protects you and helps you communicate more effectively.
Everything is ALWAYS on the record
There is no such thing as a casual conversation with a journalist. Even informal chats at conferences or "off the record" comments can and often do appear in articles. Assume every word could be published.
Ask for questions first, but be ready
It's perfectly appropriate to request interview questions in advance, but anticipate that you may not receive them. Prepare your key messages regardless of whether you know the specific questions.
Media attend public events
Always assume journalists are present at conferences, talks, and other public venues. Comments you make in Q&A sessions or hallway conversations can become news stories.
Know the media policy
At conferences or private events, always ask about the media policy. Some events are on the record, others have embargoes, and some are completely closed to press.
Work with your communications team
Connect with your institution's communications or media team BEFORE accepting any media invitation. They can provide coaching, review key messages, and help you avoid common pitfalls.
Preparation Strategies
  • Read the reporter's past coverage to anticipate their angle and likely questions
  • Answer the question YOU want to answer - bridge from their question to your key points
  • Choose your vulnerabilities while protecting yourself - decide what you're willing to discuss and where your boundaries are
  • Know your boundaries clearly before the interview begins, including topics you won't discuss
  • Prepare 2-3 key messages that you want to communicate regardless of the questions asked
The Simple Story Algorithm Applied
When preparing any communication about your research, follow this systematic approach:
Build backwards
Work backwards from your call to action, constructing the logical and emotional path that will get your audience from where they are to where you want them to be.
Know your audience
Apply the 5 W's (Who, What, When, Where, Why) to understand exactly who you're communicating with and what they need.
Plot where they are
Use the Matrix of Enchanted Thinking to understand their current position on AI - both the Utopian/Dystopian axis and the Sci-Fi/Everyday axis.
Choose your structure
Select the appropriate framework depending on your format and audience.
Key Takeaways
The word "intelligence" creates narrative traps
Be aware that simply using this word primes audiences to anthropomorphize and may shift the conversation in unexpected directions.
Visual metaphors matter enormously
Even in technical communities, the images we use shape how people think about AI. Choose visuals that represent actual research, not sci-fi fantasies.
Understanding audience position is critical
Knowing where your audience sits on the Matrix of Enchanted Thinking is as important as understanding your content expertise.
Structure helps retention
Use narrative structure deliberately - research proves it predicts communication success better than content quality alone.
Simple frameworks work best
Beginning (context) → Middle (problem) → End (solution) is a reliable formula that works across formats and audiences.
Action requires shared understanding
You're asking people to take action on your ideas - you can't do that until you're in the same place and can move together.
Reflection Questions
Take time to consider these questions about your own research communication practices. Honest self-assessment is the first step toward more effective communication.
1
Your Position on the Matrix
Where do YOU sit on the Matrix of Enchanted Thinking about your own work? Are you utopian or dystopian? Sci-fi or everyday? Be honest - there's no "right" answer, but understanding your position is essential.
2
Your Audience's Position
Where do you think your most common audiences sit on this matrix? Do policymakers see AI differently than fellow researchers? How about journalists versus the general public?
3
The Gap You Must Bridge
What's the biggest gap you need to bridge between your position and your audience's? Is it the utopian/dystopian axis or the sci-fi/everyday axis? How much effort will this require?
4
Your Visual Metaphors
What visual metaphors do you currently use to explain your work? Are they helping people understand the actual research, or are they creating narrative traps that mislead audiences?
5
Your Calls to Action
What would be your call to action for different audiences? What do you want policymakers to do? Funders? Fellow researchers? The general public? Be specific about the actions you're requesting.

Consider writing down your answers to these questions. They'll serve as a reference point as you develop your communication piece for Day 2 of this course. Revisit them regularly as your work and audiences evolve.
Additional Reading
  • Nancy Duarte's "Resonate" - on creating transformative presentations
  • Chip and Dan Heath's "Made to Stick" - why some ideas survive and others die
  • Alan Alda's "If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?" - on empathy in communication
  • Randy Olson's "Houston, We Have a Narrative" - science storytelling principles
Coming Up: Day 2
Editorial Workshop
You'll present your communication piece in your chosen medium for peer feedback in an editorial workshop style. This is your opportunity to practice what you've learned and receive constructive guidance from peers and instructors.
Choose Your Medium
Decide whether you'll create a blog post, video script, podcast outline, conference talk, social media thread, or another format that matches your goals.
Choose Your Audience
Be specific about who you're communicating with. Use the 5 W's framework to define your audience clearly and understand their needs.
Apply These Frameworks
Use the Matrix of Enchanted Thinking, story structures, and other tools we've covered. Document how you're applying each framework to your work.
Create Something
Develop a complete communication piece, not just an outline. The more finished your work, the more valuable the feedback you'll receive.
What to Prepare
Required Elements
  • Clear identification of your target audience
  • Your position and their position on the Matrix
  • Chosen story structure with justification
  • Complete draft of your communication piece
  • Specific call to action for your audience
Optional Enhancements
  • Visual elements or imagery plans
  • Alternative approaches you considered
  • Anticipated challenges or concerns
  • Questions for peer reviewers
  • Examples of successful similar communications

Remember: The more complex your story, the simpler your presentation needs to be. If you're tackling a highly technical topic, focus even more intensely on clear structure and accessible language.
Workshop Format
Each participant will have 10-15 minutes to present their work, followed by 10 minutes of structured feedback. We'll use the editorial workshop model, where feedback is:
  • Specific - tied to concrete elements of your work
  • Actionable - suggesting clear improvements you can implement
  • Kind - delivered with respect for your effort and intentions
  • Framework-based - referencing the concepts and tools from this course
Come prepared to both give and receive feedback. The act of critically evaluating others' work will sharpen your own communication skills significantly.
Questions?
This concludes our introduction to communicating AI research effectively. We've covered a lot of ground in 20 minutes - from understanding the unique challenges of discussing artificial intelligence, to mapping audience positions, to applying proven story structures.
Key Concepts to Remember
Be Aware of Narrative Traps
The word "intelligence" and our visual metaphors unconsciously shape how audiences think about AI. Choose your language and imagery deliberately.
Map Your Audience
Use the Matrix of Enchanted Thinking to understand where your audience sits and how far you need to move them. Communication requires meeting people where they are.
Structure Predicts Success
Research proves that clear narrative structure improves retention and engagement more reliably than content quality alone. Use it deliberately.
Start with Your End Goal
Define your call to action first, then work backwards. If you don't know what you want people to do, they certainly won't know either.
Get in Touch
Have questions about the concepts we've covered? Need clarification before Day 2? Want to discuss your communication piece approach? Please reach out.
Remember: Effective communication about AI research isn't just about transmitting information - it's about building shared understanding, bridging worldviews, and empowering people to engage thoughtfully with the technology that's shaping our future.
The stakes are high. The public conversation is filled with hyperbole. But you have the tools, frameworks, and awareness to communicate more effectively. Start small, practice deliberately, and refine your approach based on feedback.