By Dr Asangba Tzudir
The emergence of Artificial Intelligence and specifically AI generative tools comes with certain serious concerns shared across the education sector. That, AI will come in the way of academic paradigms: material and notes generation, assessment, course design, activities, and more. However, the benefits that AI brings needs to be acknowledged while at the same time, educators should also explore and experiment with this new technology.
Having been integrated into apps it is no more about prevention but to provide proper guidance to students and make them aware of the potential risks. In the evolution of technology written texts and other documents in various formats are copied and shared across platforms and in the process often it becomes difficult to trace the source or the copyright author. This is where issues of academic integrity arises where AI generated content can lead to plagiarism and academic dishonesty, besides the content reliability it is going to create a situation of information overload which will only create misinformation leading to confusion.
Today, we have become so dependent on technology to the extent of being enslaved by technology. Times are such that, the younger lot are at a threshold of transition from mobile phones to AI technology. What the younger generation have been doing with mobiles phones and what they are going to do with AI technology is really going to have an impact in their lives, the positivity or negativity of its usage will largely depend on guidance, monitoring and how much of awareness is created on its usage.
With all the generative tools which students can use and besides the over dependence on technology, simply relying on AI tools will no doubt hinder critical thinking and problem-solving skills while seeking the easy way out. There is no scope for learning when it simply is about copy-paste and reproduce.
Another issue is the morals of right, wrong, good and bad which can be biased as well as discriminating which will inject a wrong principle or ideology, and even reinforce stereotyping, and which are inputs that triggers violence. It also raises ethical concerns like accountability, transparency, and responsibility. Another concern is the cyber-security risks and issues of privacy where AI-powered tools may collect and misuse personal data. AI-powered attacks can compromise personal devices and data.
Above all, the loss of human connection and face-to-face interaction seems to have become ‘valueless’ while being glued to phones seems more necessary and valuable. That is also how value laden words lose its meaning.
Now, in order to navigate these dangers there is a collective responsibility for both teachers and students. The AI generated content needs to be evaluated and for which teachers need to train the students and help them develop critical thinking skills, and which will also help the students to understand the limitations of AI and its generalized biases. The students should also be made to understand the need to use responsibly so also the need for maintaining academic integrity. In an age of information overload, students need to be well-informed so that one becomes aware of its implications and the larger impact on the society. This will go a long way for students in using AI wisely while also minimizing its associated risks.
Nancy Gleeson, Associate Professor at New York University Abu Dhabi reflected on the need for AI integration in education: “We need to embrace these tools and integrate them into pedagogies and policies. Lockdown browsers, strict dismissal policies, and forbidding the use of these platforms is not a sustainable way forward.”
AI can play a significant role in enhancing learning experiences, improving productivity and efficiency but what is really important is to ensure that it is used responsibly towards inculcating smart learning while creating educational transformation. In sum, one should be mindful that AI does not control our lives but we need to have control of AI.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
