According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, less than 10 percent of schools and universities adhere to formal guidelines for the use of hugely popular artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as the chatbot software ChatGPT (UNESCO), which hosted more than 40 ministers during the laying of the cornerstone online meeting Thursday.
Ministers exchanged approaches and policy plans as they considered the agency’s new roadmap for education and generative artificial intelligence, which can create data and content based on existing algorithms, but can also make alarming factual errors, just like humans.
“Generative AI opens up new horizons and challenges for education, but we action must be taken urgently to ensure the integration of new artificial intelligence technologies into education on our terms,” said Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Deputy Director General for Education. “It is our responsibility to prioritize safetyinclusion, diversity, transparency and quality.
Institutions are facing countless challenges in creating an instant response to the sudden emergence of these powerful AI applications, according to a new UNESCO survey of more than 450 schools and universities.
A rapidly changing landscape
At the same time, governments around the world are in the process of shaping appropriate policy responses in a rapidly changing educational landscape, while further developing or refining national strategies on artificial intelligence, data protection and other regulatory frameworks, according to UNESCO.
However, they proceed with caution. The risks associated with the use of these tools can be seen by students exposed to false or biased informationsome ministers at a world meeting said.
The debate revealed others shared concerns, including how to mitigate chatbots’ inherent flaws of glaring errors. Ministers also discussed how best to do this incorporate these tools into curriculateaching methods and examinations, and adapting education systems to the disruption that generative AI is rapidly causing.
Many emphasized the key role teachers play in this new era as learning facilitators.
However, according to UNESCO, teachers need guidance and training to meet these challenges.
Adding to existing frameworks
Teachers need guidance and training to meet these challenges. — UNESCO
For its part, the agency will continue to lead the global dialogue with policy makers, partners, academia and civil society, in line with the document entitled Artificial Intelligence and Education: A Guide for Policymakers AND AI Ethics Recommendationas good as Beijing Consensus on artificial intelligence and education.
UNESCO is too developing policy guidelines on the use of generative artificial intelligence in education and research, and also AI competency framework for students and teachers to classrooms.
These new tools will be launched during Digital Learning Weekwhich will take place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris from September 4-7, the agency said.
Learn more about UNESCO’s work in digital learning and education Here.