Listen to the tech gurus, and they’ll tell you that AI in education is the future. They may not be too far off base, because educators have discovered several benefits of using artificial intelligence, including improved compliance, efficient workflow procedures, and personalized learning.

Most teachers appreciate the ease with which they can gather and analyze student data. Artificial intelligence serves as the teacher’s assistant in the classroom, patiently working with students as they relearn concepts. AI also helps teachers manage the day-to-day operations of their classrooms.

What’s not to like?

Although AI in education may be streamlining the work teachers once laboriously undertook by hand, artificial intelligence may bring with it a nefarious side.

Problems with AI

Cheating

One of the most significant concerns among educators is the likelihood that students will use AI to game the system and cheat.

Turning to Google for answers has become more natural than figuring out an answer without the aid of a search engine. In school, students also value Wolfram Alpha for its ability to answer questions and show how to solve them. The site for computational intelligence offers answers in every school subject and topic, and students can rely on the AI program for almost anything, from how to solve for –x to synonyms of deception.

Similarly, chatbots like Watson Assistant serve as a teaching assistant in the classroom by telling students the answers to their questions and determining when the learners need additional help. Some teachers argue that chatbot help is still cheating.

AI by itself doesn’t produce cheating. Humans cheat, and they’ll do it with or without AI. Instead, educators must determine how and when students will access AI for help with class assignments.

Cyberbullying

The relative anonymity of social media has brought cyberbullying into the forefront. More than one-third of all middle and high school students report having been the victim of cyberbullying. They have been harassed on an online platform.

Nowhere has cyberbullying been more rampant than on Instagram, a favorite student social media platform. Artificial intelligence can identify instances of cyberbullying. Although Instagram has written new AI algorithms to minimize and prevent cyberbullying, the risk is still present, and it can have grim consequences. Victims may experience depression, and bystanders can be guilty of not speaking out against the bullying.

Determining what constitutes cyberbullying can be subjective, and someone must teach AI what it is looking for.  The AI used for putting a halt to cyberbullying can increase it, as evidenced by hateful comments taught to chatbots Tay and Xiaolce.

Tech addiction

Despite the glitches and infinite possibilities of gross error, artificial intelligence in education promises to make the job of educators easier. The demands on teachers are high, and the responsibility for making sure every student gets what he or she needs is enormous  It’s only natural that teachers rely more on AI to help them get their jobs done.

The overuse of AI, however, can lead to tech addiction. Students find it easier and faster to turn to their tech devices for almost everything, from looking up information to socializing with others. While AI can benefit both the student and the teacher, artificial intelligence can also become consuming.

Finding a balance between AI-induced technology and human interaction is critical for each person’s well-being.

In summary

AI is a valuable and progressive tool for the classroom, but it is not without faults. By recognizing how AI integration might bring out the worst in education, teachers and administrators can offset the negative experiences.

With great progress comes immense responsibility. Integrating machine learning and AI in education requires both foresight and reflection in overcoming potential problems.