LONDON: Educational leaders at top schools in the United Kingdom are taking concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) into their own hands, forming an advisory board on the technology and warning AI’s risks pose the “greatest threat” to schools.
The UK is predicting AI could make a “transformative change” to its education system, according to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, who said the technology could take the “heavy lifting out” of a teacher’s day-to-day duties, such as compiling lesson plans.
Eight educators penned a letter to The Times of London warning that, though AI could serve as a useful tool, the technology’s risks are considered schools’ “greatest threat.”
Fast rate of change: “As leaders in state and independent schools, we regard AI as the greatest threat but also potentially the greatest benefit to our students, staff and schools. Schools are bewildered by the very fast rate of change in AI and seek secure guidance on the best way forward, but whose advice can we trust?” the coalition of teachers in the UK wrote in a letter to The Times.
Self-regulation: “We have no confidence that the large digital companies will be capable of regulating themselves in the interests of students, staff and schools. And, in the past, the Government has not shown itself capable or willing to do so,” the teachers wrote, noting they were pleased with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently saying “guardrails” on artificial intelligence need to be put in place.
“We are thus announcing today our own cross-sector body composed of leading teachers in our schools, guided by a panel of independent digital and AI experts, to advise schools on which AI developments are likely to be beneficial and which damaging,” the teachers wrote.
