What are some of the issues around the responsible use of GenAI in general, including the environment, property rights, and learning-related issues? Or specifically in education settings; What are some of the major limitations of GenAI?
Some of the issues around the responsible use of GenAI extend far beyond a classroom setting. In the near future, many careers and institutions will be fighting against AI, as humans will no longer be needed. Although AI use can be responsible, monitored, or limited, students can now exceed knowledge simply found within a textbook or taught by a professor; AI is seemingly all-knowing. This is what many think; however, AI frequently extracts and outputs data from internet sources that are not scientific or peer-reviewed. This warrants cause for issues and is an example of a major limitation of GenAI, as not only students, but society at large will be reliant on false data.
An article from 2023 by KMPG discusses how AI will be undercutting many carreers which employers will gladly replace with the AI candidate. This hit to the economy will be detrimental in the long run and will be further unsustainable, as a robot cannot perform humanely. In relation to public affairs, it discusses that set laws or code be instilled into various organizations and governments that monitor and proctor GenAI use and its application to governance principles.
GenAI overall cannot foster, nor emulate real human connection. There have been multiple accounts from various children across North America who have interacted with GenAI when coping with mental health battles; seemingly, AI only worsened their conditions. This is a difficult concept, as a student chatting to AI about their feelings could be seen as an emotional outlet to someone/something with an unbiased opinion, who won’t tell anyone your deepest darkest secrets or feelings. Conversely, we see the opposite outcome when the bot does not produce what we are hoping it will.
A final stipulation I found difficult to come to terms with when using AI is its impact on the environment. The amount of water and energy it takes for AI to generate a prompt is unfathomable when thinking about how many prompts get outputted every second. This could be turned into a great science lesson on how our everyday lifestyles significantly impact the environment. If we want a better future for our students, we need to educate them on the realities of GenAI and whether it is truly needed to succeed in our contemporary world.
Resources:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D4hQy69gCbN0&ved=2ahUKEwjJsOjBt7KSAxWbMTQIHXFhHt8QkPEHegQIVxAB&usg=AOvVaw1pssT8-pSqXMvfCMqXSp79
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DDFwa0ZSeiIk&ved=2ahUKEwibr5GRurKSAxWLEDQIHdpbKJoQkPEHegQIFhAB&usg=AOvVaw0kgJUiGXDvAT4Lbtf_xYAT
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DjBnJlwcnOBI&ved=2ahUKEwibr5GRurKSAxWLEDQIHdpbKJoQkPEHegQIGBAB&usg=AOvVaw13ZJWJfYOWV1yUgPjW91ac
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/tip/Generative-AI-ethics-8-biggest-concerns%23:~:text%3DLike%2520other%2520forms%2520of%2520AI,enterprises%2520might%2520need%2520to%2520address.&ved=2ahUKEwing7zHu7KSAxXbIDQIHYMpB8sQ1fkOegQIDBAK&opi=89978449&cd&psig=AOvVaw1D9tgydAVLt5vrpwAdAx2e&ust=1769835071955000
Comments
One response to “Reflecting on AI in the Classroom”
Thanks for the interesting post, Kajsa. You reminded me how frustrating AI Chatbots can be (I yell at them as if that will make a difference). We are in a very different time recently where environmental conversations have disappeared in the changing political sphere. While Thunder Dome may be near, I hope that my grandchildren to not have to endure my generation’s selfish disregard for the land and sea.