A recent survey reveals that young people aged 15-29 globally have varying opinions on AI in education, with concerns over privacy, regulation, and the impact on teaching methods. While some are open to AI assistance, the majority emphasise the importance of human interaction and the need for stringent regulations to protect privacy and promote equity.
Youth Express Mixed Feelings on AI in Education
A recent consultation by the Higher Education for Good Foundation, partnered with the Financial Times, surveyed over 1,000 young people aged 15-29 globally to gauge their views on artificial intelligence (AI). Conducted in April and May, the consultation employed AI to collect, translate, and summarize responses.
Key Insights:
Privacy and Data Protection: Privacy concerns dominated the feedback, with many participants like Floribert worried about data breaches and surveillance. Geo echoed these concerns, highlighting the potential for AI systems to monitor students’ social interactions. Respondent Noamrech stressed that selling data is a major issue.
Regulation and Transparency: Participants called for stringent regulations on data collection and usage transparency. Bangel noted the skepticism around privacy settings, while younger respondents, especially in the Americas, showed greater caution.
Usage Preferences:
Health and Wellbeing: While 23% of respondents were open to AI in health contexts, 77% preferred restrictions to safeguard sensitive data. Concerns about AI’s environmental impact, due to server energy consumption, resulted in four-fifths preferring limited usage.
Education and Creativity: A significant 71% opposed replacing teachers with AI, valuing human emotional intelligence and guidance. Only 13% were open to AI-led education. Mafiken emphasized the importance of schools in fostering social development.
Supporting Roles: Most respondents favored limited AI assistance with homework to promote critical thinking. Curious highlighted the necessity of training in AI use to combat fake news proliferation. Many saw AI as a supplementary tool for note-taking and personalized learning, as described by Tatiana.
Teachers’ Perspectives:
Young teachers appreciated AI for relieving administrative burdens and enhancing research. Rochelle mentioned that AI saved her lesson planning time, allowing more classroom presence.
Addressing Inequality:
Concerns also arose about AI exacerbating the “digital divide.” Rasheed Jr. warned about AI perpetuating societal biases, while Blanchard highlighted the global disparity in internet and smartphone access.
Conclusion:
While recognizing AI’s potential benefits, youths demand robust regulations to protect privacy, ensure equity, and mitigate environmental impacts. Their nuanced views reflect a desire for AI to complement rather than replace human elements in education.
