The Great Network of Words

How does a machine learn to speak?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we work, learn and understand the world around us. To respond to this shifting landscape, we have developed a range of resources with technological and pedagogical experts to support educators to spark discussions about AI with confidence.

Our latest resource, The Great Network of Words, introduces Large Language Models (LLMs) to 9-12-year-olds in an accessible, engaging and thought-provoking way. This video is designed to foster the next generation of critical thinkers - an essential skill set for STEAM study and future career pathways.

By providing resources that aid educators to empower students on how to question how AI works - and where it falls short - the video aims to foster critical thinking and informed citizens ready to navigate an AI-shaped future.

Authored on

Wed, 02/25/2026 - 11:26

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The adventure begins

Step into the world of Max, Sam and Vic as they venture off the beaten path to find the mysterious and rumored mechanical tree.

This talking tree symbolises how LLMs grow sentences from vast data and discover AI’s vast possibilities - from answering complex questions to speaking many languages and cracking codes.

Central to their discovery is that AI does not think, feel or understand in the way people do. Instead, it generates responses by identifying patterns across enormous volumes of text data, making it vulnerable to errors, susceptible to bias and limited by the quality of the information it has learned.

The film invites audiences to question, reflect and analyse LLMs and to imagine a responsible relationship between human intelligence and AI.

Get the companion booklet!

To support educators, teachers, and parents in exploring this complex topic, we created an explanatory booklet highlighting key moments from the film.

The booklet helps break down how large language models work and clarifies essential concepts, using simple explanations and fun facts to make them easy to share with any audience.