News Story

Exploring the Role of AI in Education: Benefits, Risks, and the Future of Learning

Nancy Pontika, Friday 15 Nov 2024

Dr Aisling Third, KMi’s Research Fellow, recently joined the Academic Co-Leads for Generative AI in Learning, Teaching and Assessment, Dr Mirjam Hauck (Senior Lecturer at the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics) and Dr Michel Wermelinger (Senior Lecturer in Computing) for a podcast hosted by Pedagodzilla. The discussion focused on the intersection of AI and education, exploring both its potential benefits and risks.

The panelists highlighted how AI can enhance learning, such as helping students practice language skills without the pressure of speaking to humans, particularly for beginners. However, they also addressed concerns, stressing that AI’s misuse could have negative consequences, such as students relying on generative tools like ChatGPT for assessments. They emphasised the importance of critically engaging with AI outputs, rather than accepting them without question.

The conversation also explored the future of AI in education, suggesting that while AI may change certain educational skills, it also calls for a greater emphasis on human abilities such as prompting and evaluating AI-generated content. Overall, the researchers were cautiously optimistic, believing that AI can complement human interaction but should never fully replace it in educational settings.