Artificial intelligence is a game changer in the world of education. How can universities put it to good use and crack down on bad uses?
That’s the topic Mark McNeilly addresses in today’s Martin Center article.
He writes:
The approach I found most useful was intentional adoption — approaching AI thoughtfully. Putting this into the context of an institution’s mission, I’d describe it as, “Performing innovative research and preparing the workforce to shape a better future through the intelligent, ethical, and focused adoption of AI.” “Intelligent” means deploying AI only where it makes sense and building AI skills and infrastructure with the future in mind. “Ethical” means ensuring individual use of AI and AI enterprise deployments avoid bias, protect privacy, and guarantee fairness and accuracy. “Focused” means aligning AI with key missions of the university, thoughtful experimentation, and combining top-down enablement with grassroots, organic participation.
McNeilly advocates a course focused on AI usage for all students. Faculty members need to learn how to make assignments as AI-resistant as possible.
He also sees the need for AI research: “Second, academia should encourage researchers to study AI’s effects on humanity, society, and individuals. The effect of AI on us as a species and as humans is not only tremendous, but also poorly understood. No other institution is as well-suited to do this as a research university. Areas such as AI’s impact on jobs, social interaction, bias, human meaning, and many others are all ripe for research. Universities can do this with an interdisciplinary flavor if they make it a priority.”
Read the whole thing.