How will generative AI change education?

While some educators are sounding alarm bells over chatbots, others think they could become just another tool in a student’s arsenal

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Generative AI has powerful applications as a source for knowledge acquisition, as it can be used quickly and coherently to produce text outputs on almost any subject.

Many generative AI models are also capable of producing efficient code in the programming language of a user’s choice or assessing the viability of pre-written code. 

The wide availability of these models is something with which academic institutions have already had to grapple in the past year alone. Tools such as ChatGPT put traditional assessment methods such as written coursework or take-home exams at risk, but also act as powerful assistants for computing students looking to improve their programming skills.

In this episode Jane is joined by Prashanth Chandrasekar, CEO of Stack Overflow, to discuss how AI can change education and digital innovation.

Highlights

“If you look at the number of applications of computing courses by 18-year-olds in the UK, that's risen over nine and a half percent since last year. So it's the seventh most popular course to study according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). I remember that from my undergrad days. And I think they've suggested that young students, high school students, and secondary education students are increasingly inspired by AI.”

“The other approach would be to say you know what, just use it completely. Use it because it's free, you have access to it, so it's like using a calculator in your final exam. You know, when that happened, when I first experienced it, I was like, ‘Wow, I can't believe they're allowing us to use a calculator’.”

“From my standpoint at least in this phase of where we are, I can't predict what's to come 10 years from now, but certainly where we are at the moment it feels that people should continue to learn the fundamentals so they can understand what's being built even if it’s being automated away and generated.”

Footnotes

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Rory Bathgate
Rory Bathgate
Features and Multimedia Editor

Rory Bathgate is Features and Multimedia Editor at ITPro, overseeing all in-depth content and case studies. He can also be found co-hosting the ITPro Podcast with Jane McCallion, swapping a keyboard for a microphone to discuss the latest learnings with thought leaders from across the tech sector.

In his free time, Rory enjoys photography, video editing, and good science fiction. After graduating from the University of Kent with a BA in English and American Literature, Rory undertook an MA in Eighteenth-Century Studies at King’s College London. He joined ITPro in 2022 as a graduate, following four years in student journalism. You can contact Rory at rory.bathgate@futurenet.com or on LinkedIn.

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