Education System: AI Tools Not The Savior Yet -By Ayobami Okerinde

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence by software-coded heuristics (Investopedia). This means the ability of a machine to perform human-like functions. It also performs cognitive functions (using your brain) like attention, processing speed, and memory that we attribute to humans.

AI is not the new kid on the block; it’s the product of decade-long research, failures, trials, and dedication. The emergence of AI started in the 40s and 50s, when scientists from different fields met and discussed the possibility of creating an artificial brain. AI is much present in our day-to-day lives, from virtual assistants on our mobile phones like Siri to the door that opens itself when you’re about to go in or out of a building to the possibility of driverless cars, among others.

AI tools, on the other hand, are software applications that use artificial intelligence algorithms to perform a specific task or solve problems. There’s been an influx of AI into all sectors of the world. The possibility of AI taking over jobs is currently one of the most discussed topics around the world. The number of AI tools available presently is not known, as there are hundreds out there, with some performing a specified function.

The release of a generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT, by OpenAI, a San Francisco-based start-up, in 2022 was a breakthrough. The coming of ChatGPT was touted by many as ending Google’s dominance and reign as the leading search engine tool.

The possibility of AI has been explored in the education system, and it has been a success. However, for students, ChatGPT might not be the messiah they are waiting for—at least not now.

Reliability: How reliable ChatGPT is is one question that must be answered. On a personal level, ChatGPT could achieve a high success rate. However, on a larger scale, the reliability is questionable. ChatGPT is currently the most popular AI tool and arguably the most used for academic work by students. In a situation where it’s used for an assignment or coursework by a number of people, the possibility of having repeated or similar answers for different students is high. With this, there’s a problem of plagiarism, which is greatly frowned upon in academia.

Validity: How valid are the responses you get from AI tools like ChatGPT? On the website, there’s a caveat that “may produce inaccurate information about people, places, or facts.” Also, ChatGPT is currently at capacity. When asked questions about specific things, the information available dates back to 2021. Academics don’t deal with “they say,” it’s all about facts. Students are at high risk of getting the wrong answers to their questions.

There are numerous cases currently of ChatGPT generating fake quotes, citations, and wrong attributions of sources. This could be harmful for students who rely solely on it in their continuous assessment tests.

Critical thinking: One of the distinguished features of a human is the ability to think critically. The reliance on AI tools will only lead to tertiary and educational institutions releasing graduates who are robot-like. At this point, there’s no difference between a robot and a human. When faced with questions or courses that require critical thinking, the possibility of a high failure rate is high. A teacher allowed his students to use ChatGPT for an assignment, and one of the students opined, “I’m not worried about AI getting to where we are now. I’m much more worried about the possibility of us reverting to where AI is.”

The street lingua franca of “for every gbas, there’s a gbos” is applicable in this context. There are currently tools built on the ‘same wave length” that ChatGPT operates on. This can be likened to the age-old wisdom among the Yoruba that “the Oyinbo man who created pencils also manufactured erasers.” There are also AI tools that can detect if an article was written by a human or an AI.

AI on the other hand can be a useful tool for students when properly utilized. Students can use it as a means to gain more knowledge on a particular subject, and also as a means of support.

AI tools are not fully developed; there are more works currently ongoing on them. When it develops to an extent, there’s a chance that the discussion will change. One thing to note is that AI has come to stay.