Is AI threatening the future of education?

A new book suggests that the rising use of AI by students has created a crisis threatening the integrity of education.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) AI expert Dr Stefan Popenici’s book, Artificial Intelligence and Learning Futures: Critical Narratives of Technology and Imagination in Higher Education, examines the risks of AI in education and curriculum design, a growing issue he has described as a global “crisis”.

The book delves into the ideological history of AI development, the dehumanising impact of AI on universities, teachers and students, and how providers must rethink how they can constructively use this technology.

Popenici revealed that he faced criticism in the early stages of his book, with his concerns about the impact of AI on education dismissed. However, he said recent events such as the use of AI program ChatGPT to write university assignments reinforced the need to reassess the role of AI in education, and how society views education in general.

“It’s globalised. It’s not a limited phenomenon affecting universities in Australia or the Anglo-Saxon world. It’s happening everywhere, in different languages and cultural spaces,” Popenici said.

He also identified a growing lack of interest in learning, originality and creativity among students as one of the most significant tragedies spurred by AI.

“AI is going to be an integral part of our lives, so we must rethink our education. We should be very concerned things created by AI pass as a valid assessment. Our assessments are so dumbed down and stereotypical, a student can pass with no problems, using an engine which is not able to associate meaning with words and information picked up from internet,” Popenici said.

“We should look at how we can go back to our humanity and how it’s possible to use this technology for the advancement of higher learning. We have to see how it is possible to use AI for our benefit, rather than using it for our own destruction.”

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