AI Applications That Affect Us All

FORUM: What are the main applications of AI already being used in education?

Ifenthaler: Since AI was first conceived in the mid-20th century, many different applications for education have been developed and studied. For instance, back in the 1960s and 1970s there were computer-assisted instruction systems. Up until the 1990s, adaptive systems were implemented in digital learning environments, though applications were limited by the technological possibilities and bandwidths of the early internet. After the turn of the millennium, larger-scale computer systems became available, and automated analysis of natural-language artifacts became a focus of research. In the 2010s, machine learning was used to analyze and predict students at risk of dropping out. More recent research has focused on the use of generative AI models to personalize learning environments and provide support for assessments.

FORUM: Do you see any potential risks?

Ifenthaler: Attitudes to AI in educational contexts are ambivalent. The discussion centers not just on the myriad opportunities, but also the myriad risks and challenges. That includes ethical considerations about AI in relation to educational decisions, and questions of social responsibility raised by the use of AI. There’s also been a lot of research about the privacy of teachers and learners in the context of AI. In sum, to quote the UNESCO recommendation, we need a “a human rights approach to AI.”

FORUM: How much impact will AI have on your sector in the future, and how quickly will those changes take effect?

Ifenthaler: AI has the potential to support advances in education and help make it fairer and more inclusive. Existing teaching methods and learning environments could be adapted to individual needs and promote lifelong learning. At a global level, we can expect AI to drive rapid progress on UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Education 2030).

Text: Katja Bauer, Jule Leger/December 2023