Why AI Thinks Every Clock Says 10:10: A Simple Way to Talk About Bias in the Classroom
Imagine asking an AI to draw a clock showing 2:45, 7:20, or midnight. But no matter what you request, the clock hands keep snapping to 10:10.
Why does this happen?
It’s not a glitch. It’s a clue.
The answer lies in how AI learns. When AI models are trained, they study patterns in massive amounts of data. And in the case of clocks, most of the images they learn from come from watch advertisements — where the time is almost always set to 10:10. Those advertisements frame the brand’s logo, create symmetry, and really just make the watch looks nice. So, the AI learns: this is what a clock looks like.
What AI Gets Wrong Can Teach Us a Lot
This one example — a clock stuck at 10:10 — offers an easy way to start conversations about AI, bias, and the importance of asking questions. It’s a lighthearted entry point into something more serious: how AI’s outputs are shaped entirely by its inputs.
Students need to understand that AI doesn’t “know” in the way people do. It doesn’t think critically or reason. It guesses based on patterns. If those patterns are limited or one-sided, its answers can be too.
Turning Curiosity Into Critical Thinking
Teachers and coaches can use the 10:10 clock to ask students:
Why do you think the AI shows 10:10 no matter what time you ask for?
What does that say about the data the AI was trained on?
How might this kind of bias affect AI used in other areas — like hiring, medical decisions, or policing?
What should people do when they get information from AI? How can we tell if it’s accurate?
These questions invite students to think deeper, not just about technology, but about how they interact with it.
AI Isn’t Always Right — And That’s the Point
If students see AI as a shortcut, they may accept its answers at face value. But if they see AI as a starting point — as a tool they can question, test, and learn from — they become more thoughtful users.
And that’s the goal.
Students don’t need to become AI experts overnight. But they do need to ask, “Where did this answer come from?” and “What might be missing?”
A Clock Stuck at 10:10 Is a Reminder
AI is powerful. But it’s only as good as the data behind it.
The 10:10 clock is a small but memorable example of how AI reflects the world it sees — and why students need to think about what it might be missing.
So next time your class is exploring AI, ask them to generate a clock. Then use that odd little 10:10 as a launchpad to talk about how technology learns — and why it’s up to us to keep questioning it.