A cross-sector body set up to ensure all schools can benefit from artificial intelligence without the pitfalls of “cheating, infantilisation and abuse” has launched its website offering advice and resources for those working in education.
AI in Education, launched by Sir Anthony Seldon, head of Epsom College, and Alex Russell, CEO of the multi-academy Bourne Education Trust, is a not-for-profit organisation devoted to providing up-to-date advice on AI to the education sector.
Their work is led by teachers in both state and private schools and the heads of the UK’s exam boards, guided by a panel of experts and senior politicians.
The launch of the group’s website comes as a YouGov survey of 2,018 British people for the Readly app found a third (32 percent) said they felt the use of AI in teaching did more harm than good, while a quarter (23 percent) believed it could benefit the sector.
Some of the UK’s leading scientists and technologists are among AI in Education’s founder members, including the Astronomer Royal, Lord Martin Rees plus AI specialists from Google, Cambridge University, and the Alan Turing Institute.
“This unprecedented coming together of leading figures from across education is on a scale never seen before,” said Sir Anthony.
“The launch of AI in Education is highly significant. It is a world-first and will ensure that we maximise the vast benefits of AI across education while minimising the very real and present hazards and dangers.
“Schools are bewildered by the fast rate of change in AI, and seek secure guidance and counsel on the best way forward. But whose advice can we trust? The truth is that AI is moving far too quickly for government or parliament alone to provide the real time advice that schools need.”
Sir Anthony added: “For too long, we have passively allowed the tech industry ruthlessly to pursue market penetration at all costs under the guise of advancing young people’s opportunities and interests.
“Global tech companies have competitively bid against each other to gain young people’s attention and have exploited them and – in the absence of the industry’s willingness to regulate itself, or parliament’s and government’s ability to keep ahead of it – this has laid waste to a generation of young people. Never again.”
A press release from the group said AI in Education “will seek to mitigate the risks” including “cheating, infantilisation, and abuse”. It will provide guidance, advice, real life case studies, political lobbying, and commentary “to ensure that AI supports deep learning, the growth of human intelligence, the development of curiosity and respect for truth and for others.”
A conference, to be held at Epsom College on 22 November 2023, will be followed by a rolling programme of activities providing support and guidance to all those working within the sector.
For more information, go to: https://www.ai-in-education.co.uk/