Key Takeaways:
- The Brookings Institution’s Center for Universal Education conducted a yearlong global study on the potential risks and benefits of generative AI in children’s education.
- The study found that the risks of utilizing generative AI in children’s education currently outweigh its benefits, particularly in terms of undermining children’s foundational development.
- The study identifies three pillars for action: Prosper, Prepare, and Protect, with actionable recommendations for various stakeholders to maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing its risks.
- The study emphasizes the importance of a pedagogically sound approach to AI implementation, with well-designed AI tools and platforms that support student learning and development.
- The study urges all relevant actors to identify at least one recommendation to advance over the next three years to ensure that AI enriches, rather than diminishes, students’ learning and development.
Introduction to the Study
The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a heated debate in the education community, with some hailing its potential benefits and others warning of its perils. In response, the Brookings Institution’s Center for Universal Education embarked on a yearlong global study to understand the potential negative risks that generative AI poses to students and to identify strategies for maximizing its benefits. As the study’s authors note, "Rather than wait for a decade to conduct a postmortem on the failures and opportunities of AI, [we] embarked on a premortem—to understand the potential negative risks that generative AI poses to students, and what we can do now to prevent these risks, while maximizing the potential benefits of AI." This proactive approach recognizes that the impact of AI on education will be significant, and that it is crucial to address potential risks and challenges early on.
The Risks and Benefits of AI in Education
The study found that the risks of utilizing generative AI in children’s education currently outweigh its benefits. This is because the risks of AI differ in nature from its benefits, and may prevent the benefits from being realized. As the study notes, "the risks of AI differ in nature from its benefits—that is, these risks undermine children’s foundational development—and may prevent the benefits from being realized." The study identifies two potential scenarios: "AI-enriched learning" and "AI-diminished learning." AI-enriched learning occurs when well-designed AI tools and platforms are used as part of a pedagogically sound approach, offering students a number of learning benefits. In contrast, AI-diminished learning occurs when there is an overreliance on AI tools and platforms, putting children and youth’s fundamental learning capacity at risk.
The Pillars for Action
To address the risks and challenges associated with AI in education, the study proposes three pillars for action: Prosper, Prepare, and Protect. These pillars provide a framework for stakeholders, including governments, technology companies, education system leaders, families, and individuals, to work together to maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing its risks. As the study’s authors note, "We urge all relevant actors to identify at least one recommendation to advance over the next three years." This call to action recognizes that the impact of AI on education will be significant, and that it is crucial for stakeholders to work together to ensure that AI enriches, rather than diminishes, students’ learning and development.
The Importance of a Pedagogically Sound Approach
The study emphasizes the importance of a pedagogically sound approach to AI implementation. This means that AI tools and platforms should be designed to support student learning and development, rather than simply replacing traditional teaching methods. As the study notes, "Well-designed AI tools and platforms can offer students a number of learning benefits if deployed as a part of an overall, pedagogically sound approach." This approach recognizes that AI is a tool, not a replacement for human teachers and educators. By using AI in a way that supports student learning and development, educators can help students develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.
Conclusion and Recommendations
In conclusion, the study provides a timely and important warning about the potential risks and challenges associated with AI in education. By identifying the risks and challenges associated with AI, and proposing a framework for action, the study provides a roadmap for stakeholders to work together to maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing its risks. As the study’s authors note, "It’s not too late to bend the arc on AI implementation. We all have the agency, the capacity, and the imperative to help AI enrich, not diminish, students’ learning and development." By working together, stakeholders can ensure that AI is used in a way that supports student learning and development, and that the benefits of AI are realized for all students.
A new direction for students in an AI world: Prosper, prepare, protect