AI: a clear and present danger?
Or are we on the threshold of a completely remade educational system?
A group of teachers and heads, led by Sir Anthony Seldon and Tom Rogerson among others, has formed to address the threats to education from AI, according to The Times: https://bit.ly/3BWi8mS
The explosion of AI tools is a perfect example of “Future Shock”, the profound effect of rapid technological change leaving humans suffering “shattering stress and disorientation”. It isn’t a new idea – American futurist author Alvin Toffler observed it in 1970. His book described the shift from an industrial to a post-industrial society, a shift we are currently living.
The challenge presented by AI is that the speed of change is an order of magnitude faster than previous technological thresholds. As Toffler would point out, human evolution is linear, whereas technological evolution is exponential.
Technology has already had a deep impact on education, transforming the way students learn and the way teachers teach. With the rise of online learning platforms, educational apps and digital tools, students and teachers alike are increasingly turning to technology to enhance the learning experience.
My fear is that the terrifying amount of leverage afforded by AI means that the so-called Matthew Effect (i.e. to those who already have, shall be given) will compound even further. Those with existing literacy will be able to write effective, precise prompts and 10x their output, while those who have struggled with literacy or who lack financial resources to buy AI-enabled devices will be left even further behind, with widening social and economic inequality between the AI haves and have nots.
I also worry that dissenting thought will be suppressed; if using AI becomes de-facto essential in order to keep up with the relentless pace of the pack, then where will be the space and time to develop original ideas or viewpoints that diverge from the mainstream? Another futurist before the word was invented, George Orwell, understood well that if you control society’s words and ways of expressing itself, you control society completely.
I am a hypocrite of course, because, while raising the red flag about AI, I am also embracing the leverage effect: my academic benchmarking assessments have used AI-powered adaptive tests for more than a year. Also, I support R&D in educational AI because Pandora’s box is well and truly open. Regulating educational AI with layers of compliance and managerialism will stifle innovation and investment. If we in the UK and the West do not innovate, then others will, and probably in a less liberal way than we would hope.
To read more on the debate, click here: https://bit.ly/425xYpU