Investigation delves into perspectives of Latvian youth regarding AI in their educational system

In August 2024, Samsung Electronics Baltics, in collaboration with research agency Norstat, conducted an online survey involving 930 students aged 15 to 19. The survey aimed to gather insights about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their learning experience.

The findings suggest a positive outlook towards AI in education, with 72% of the students believing that AI skills should be taught at school. This belief is further underscored by the fact that over half of the surveyed youth (52%) stated that their schools have yet to implement AI solutions in the learning process.

One of the key areas where students see the utility of AI is in learning technology, natural sciences, and languages. A significant 60% believe that AI skills will be essential in all future professions, while 41% see the role of AI in language learning - both Latvian and foreign languages. However, only 8% of respondents see the usefulness of AI in sports and health education.

The survey also revealed that 39% of young people believe that AI can be beneficial for learning natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, and geography. Interestingly, a fifth of the surveyed young people would trust AI to choose their future profession for them.

The "Solve for Tomorrow" survey is part of a wider program promoting self-education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields in more than 30 countries. It aligns with the Erasmus+ program, an organisation that supports international mobility and collaboration in education worldwide, including STEM fields.

In Latvia, partners for the "Solve for Tomorrow" program include the Latvian Safer Internet Center, Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association, Latvian Information Technology Cluster, Riga Business School, AI Studio, Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, State Education and Content Center, Agency for International Youth Programs, the portal "Labs Of Latvia", and the office of the European Parliament in Latvia.

As part of the "Programming II" course, students explore different machine learning algorithms and compare them in action, solving tasks they set themselves. Mihails Korčevskis, from the Evaluation and Analytics Department of the State Education Content Center, emphasised the importance of developing critical thinking and ethical use of AI.

The survey concluded that AI solutions are most useful in school when learning technology-related subjects, such as engineering, computer science, design and technology lessons. However, 19% of young people believe that it is not necessary to learn about AI at school, while 9% had no clear opinion on the matter.

In conclusion, the Samsung-led survey provides valuable insights into the perspectives of young people regarding AI in education. The findings suggest a growing acceptance and expectation of AI in the learning process, particularly in technology, natural sciences, and language education. As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial to ensure that its integration into education is guided by critical thinking and ethical considerations.

Investigation delves into perspectives of Latvian youth regarding AI in their educational system