Education Experts Discussed Artificial Intelligence
During the 2024 World Digital Education Conference in Shanghai, experts in education deliberated on the pros and cons of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies. At the conference, which was organized on the theme of "Digitalization of Education and Construction of a Learning Society," experts and officials in the field of education emphasized that generative artificial intelligence tools should not be banned in schools, highlighting the importance of their safe and appropriate application to enhance the innovative development of education.
The conference also highlighted that the rapid advancement of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies has provided more opportunities for both teachers and students, while also bringing new challenges in terms of information security and educational equality. Tongji University President Zheng Qinghua, who attended the conference, focused on China’s adoption of the opportunities and challenges of AI-supported education and stressed the importance of young people understanding the knowledge generated by technology. Zheng, who stated that "Generative AI technology has become a fundamental tool for acquiring and disseminating knowledge," mentioned the significant impact of artificial intelligence on teaching, learning, and even school management in China.
Zheng advised students and educators to use existing technology and professional disciplines to train themselves to be more innovative, rather than using artificial intelligence to directly access answers. Colin Bailey, president of Queen Mary University of London and a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said that with the rapid growth of ChatGPT, the issue is not whether to use artificial intelligence in education, but how to use it safely, effectively, and appropriately. "Banning generative AI in schools is the worst thing we can do.
It is important to ensure how we use these technologies to enhance education so that students have the skills they need for the constantly changing job market," Bailey said, noting that artificial intelligence would be beneficial for real-world applications of technology in modern workplaces. Bailey also mentioned the potential harms of artificial intelligence, stating that poor data, insufficient privacy, and misuse of AI systems could lead to individual and societal harm. He highlighted that approaches to artificial intelligence globally serve as an important guide for the ethical and responsible use of generative AI.
In China, where various artificial intelligence models developed by internet companies and universities have been integrated into educational activities, it is indicated that a significant majority of university students use many technologies, including Ernie Bot, an AI chatbot product developed by Baidu Inc. According to a survey conducted by the online learning platform Study.com, 89% of students in the country stated that they used ChatGPT to help with homework assignments.