Should we let students use ChatGPT? | Natasha Berg | TEDxSioux Falls

Summary

The transcript discusses the impact of AI, specifically OpenAI's chat GPT, on education. It highlights the concerns of educators about students' critical thinking skills in the face of AI's capabilities. The speaker suggests that instead of blocking AI, schools should embrace it, teaching students to use it responsibly and productively. They propose integrating AI into the curriculum to enhance learning through collaboration, project-based learning, and personalized tutoring. The transcript emphasizes the need for educators to adapt and redesign their teaching methods to prepare students for the evolving digital world.

Takeaways

• 🤖 AI programs like Chat GPT can generate essays and other written content, raising concerns about academic integrity.
• 📚 English teachers experienced an existential crisis upon witnessing AI's essay-writing capabilities.
• 🌐 Chat GPT has gained widespread attention, being featured on major news stations and Time magazine.
• 📈 Chat GPT is a large language model that improves its responses over time through neural pathway connections.
• 🔍 The AI can provide information, understand natural language, and generate creative responses.
• 🏥 Various industries, including healthcare and business, have started using AI for diverse applications.
• 🖼️ GPT-4, an upgrade from Chat GPT, can analyze images and web links, not just text.
• 🔍 Microsoft is integrating GPT-4 into Bing search engine and plans to incorporate it into Microsoft Office Suite.
• 🏫 Educators are grappling with the impact of AI on critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students.
• 🚫 Blocking AI in schools may not be effective, as students can access it outside of school-controlled devices.
• 📝 Educators should consider integrating AI into the curriculum to teach students how to use it safely and productively.

Q & A

What was the initial reaction of the English teachers to the AI program's ability to write an essay?

The initial reaction was disbelief, as they couldn't believe that AI could write a quality essay.

How did the speaker test the AI program's capabilities?

The speaker tested the AI program by using their laptop to observe it construct a well-written analysis essay in seconds.

What is a large language model?

A large language model is a network of neural pathway connections that allows a program to learn and become more accurate in its responses over time.

What did Chat GPT say about its capabilities when asked?

Chat GPT said it can provide information on a wide range of topics, understand and respond to natural language, generate creative and personalized responses, and learn from interactions to improve its language processing capabilities.

What was the significance of the release of GPT-4?

GPT-4, released in March, can analyze images and web links, unlike Chat GPT which was restricted to text input only.

How has the AI technology been utilized by various industries since its public emergence?

Doctors have used it to help diagnose patients, businesses for creating advertisements and blog posts, and individuals for tasks like writing thank you cards.

What concerns do educators have about AI in the classroom?

Educators are concerned about students' declining abilities to think critically and problem-solve, and the potential for AI to do the thinking for them.

What does the author suggest as an alternative to blocking AI in schools?

The author suggests teaching students how to interact with AI safely and productively, and integrating AI into the classroom to enhance learning experiences.

How can AI technology benefit teachers in their work?

AI can save teachers hours of preparation time by helping with writing lesson plans, creating discussion prompts, and generating tests and quizzes.

What is the potential impact of AI on the future of education?

AI is expected to transform the landscape of education, requiring educators to re-evaluate and redesign their curriculum to prepare students for the 21st-century workforce.

Why is it important for schools to adapt to AI technology?

Adapting to AI technology is important to ensure that students are prepared to interact with the world around them using the technology available to them, and to avoid being left behind in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.