Overview of Technological Advancements and Educational Developments in 2023

In the ever-evolving world of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is making its mark in education, transforming the way students learn and teachers teach.

A recent development in this sphere is GPTZero, a free tool designed by Edward Tian, a senior at Princeton University, to detect writing generated by ChatGPT. The tool aims to address potential student cheating through AI, as indicated by a recent Intelligent.com survey. The survey revealed that 10% of high school and college students, and 15% of parents with school-aged children, used ChatGPT in addition to a tutor this past year.

Khan Academy, a well-known name in online education, is joining the AI bandwagon with the launch of Khanmigo, a GPT-4 powered learning guide. Unlike ChatGPT, Khanmigo will act as a tutor and guide to help students learn, bridging the gap between AI and personalised tutoring. Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, believes the impact of AI technologies like ChatGPT will be greater in education and beyond than the advent of search engines or smartphones.

The convergence of AI and education is not just limited to tools like GPTZero and Khanmigo. SlidesGPT, for instance, uses AI to automate slide presentation creation by trawling the internet for images and information based on user input.

However, the integration of AI in education also presents challenges. For instance, a student at the University of California, Davis, was falsely accused of using AI to cheat on a take-home exam. Such incidents highlight the need for educators to adapt AI practices in classrooms, as emphasised by Dr. Stephanie Smith Budhai, associate clinical professor at Drexel University.

President Biden's recent executive order around AI doesn't address the gaps in school AI policies but draws attention to both the opportunities for AI in schools and some of the challenges and concerns around it. There are various digital AI detection tools available for educators to prevent AI-generated cheating, with some performing better than others.

AI tools can also make teachers' lives easier and enable them to teach more efficiently, as demonstrated by Tech & Learning's senior writer, Erik Ofgang. However, Ofgang was faced with a student's essay written by AI and had to respond to this new situation in modern teaching. He notes the growing convergence of science fiction and the classroom, with tools like robot tutors, hologram lessons, and near-instant translation tools becoming reality.

Lance Key, an award-winning educator, shares this optimistic view, believing that AI tools can make teachers' lives easier and enable them to teach more efficiently. However, he also stresses the importance of human interaction and the role of teachers in guiding students' learning.

In conclusion, AI is reshaping education, offering new opportunities and challenges. As we move forward, it is crucial for educators, students, and policymakers to navigate this new landscape thoughtfully, ensuring that AI enhances, rather than replaces, the human touch in education.