Higher education embracing ChatGPT: Acknowledging the influence of AI

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• September 19, 2023

Insight highlights

Universities are increasingly encouraging the responsible use of AI tools like ChatGPT in the classroom, noting its ability to stimulate student participation. The tool's integration could benefit diverse students, decrease teacher workload, and yield unique insights from large data sets. However, concerns remain, such as misuse, ethical issues, and accusations of cheating. 

Higher education embracing ChatGPT context

While some schools have decided to ban OpenAI's ChatGPT from their networks, more and more universities and colleges are going the opposite way and encouraging their students to use the tool responsibly. For example, Gies College of Business professor Unnati Narang, who teaches a marketing course, encourages her students to use ChatGPT to respond in her weekly discussion forums. She discovered that AI has significantly lowered the threshold for writing, resulting in learners becoming more active and producing lengthier posts. 

However, AI-generated posts receive fewer comments and reactions from fellow learners. Using text analyses, Narang discovered these posts resemble each other, leading to a sense of homogeneity. This limitation is critical in the context of education, where vibrant discussions and debates are valued. Nevertheless, the situation presents an opportunity to educate students on thinking critically and evaluating AI-generated content.

Meanwhile, the University of Sydney incorporated the use of ChatGPT in their academic honesty guidelines, provided the professor has given explicit permission to use the tool. Students are also required to divulge their use of the tool in their coursework. In addition, the university is actively studying the impacts of AI tools on the quality of higher education.

Disruptive impact

If ChatGPT can take over routine tasks, it could free up the time and energy of researchers, allowing them to focus more on exploring new ideas and solving unique problems. However, if students depend on powerful computers to sift through massive amounts of data and make inferences, they might overlook essential connections or fail to stumble upon novel discoveries. 

Many educational institutions emphasize that ChatGPT isn't a replacement for discernment, judgment, and critical thinking. Information provided by the tool might be biased, lack context, or be completely incorrect. It also brings up concerns about privacy, ethics, and intellectual property. Thus, there may be more collaboration between professors and their students on the responsible use of AI tools, including acknowledging their limitations and risks.

Nonetheless, incorporating ChatGPT into the classroom can yield two significant benefits. It can educate students about the implications of using AI and enhance their learning experience. For instance, a student might struggle with writer's block. Educators can suggest using ChatGPT by inputting a prompt and observing the AI's response. Students can then verify the information, apply their existing knowledge, and adapt the response to align with the guidelines. By merging these elements, students can produce a higher-quality final product without blindly relying on AI.

Implications of higher education embracing ChatGPT

Wider implications of higher education embracing ChatGPT may include: 

• Students from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities or limited resources, benefiting from personalized learning experiences and support. Students in rural or underserved areas may be able to access quality education through online AI platforms, contributing to a more equitable distribution of educational resources.
• Large language models like ChatGPT streamlining administrative processes, reducing teachers’ workload and enabling them to have virtual personal assistants.
• Governments addressing issues related to data privacy, algorithm bias, and ethical use of AI in educational settings. Policymakers may consider the implications of AI on student privacy rights and establish regulations to ensure fair and transparent use.
• Educational institutions investing more into robust data systems, reliable internet connectivity, and AI-driven platforms. This development can drive innovation and collaboration between academia and technology companies.
• Educators developing new skills to effectively use and leverage AI platforms, including collaboration and communication tools.
• Online learning platforms powered by AI reducing the need for physical infrastructure, resulting in lower energy consumption and carbon emissions. Additionally, the digitization of educational resources can reduce paper waste.
• Adaptive learning systems analyzing individual students' strengths and weaknesses, providing tailored recommendations and resources, leading to enhanced engagement and academic outcomes.
• AI-driven algorithms analyzing large datasets, identifying patterns, and generating insights that may not be readily apparent to human researchers. This feature can accelerate scientific discoveries and advancements across various disciplines.
• Global collaboration and cultural exchange in higher education. Students and researchers can connect and share knowledge through AI-powered platforms, fostering an international community of learners and promoting cross-cultural understanding.

Questions to consider

• If you’re a student, how is your school treating the use of AI tools like ChatGPT?
• What are some ways that teachers can encourage the responsible use of AI tools?