OpenAI is working to integrate its AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT, into education by offering tools to help teachers create lesson plans and interactive materials. To achieve this, it has developed a free online course in collaboration with Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization. The course aims to familiarize K-12 teachers with AI basics and how to use ChatGPT effectively in teaching. Comprising nine modules, the one-hour program has already been implemented in several school districts across the United States. According to OpenAI, nearly all participants found the course valuable, with 98% reporting that it provided actionable strategies for their classrooms.
Despite these efforts, skepticism among educators remains. Some teachers worry about the ethical implications and limitations of the technology. For example, while the course discusses ChatGPT's inability to grade assignments or evaluate student work objectively, concerns have been raised about inconsistent messaging regarding privacy and safety. Lance Warwick, a lecturer at the University of Illinois, points out contradictions in the course, such as recommending the use of past assignment data in prompts while cautioning against inputting student data due to privacy risks.
Other educators, like Sin á Tres Souhaits from the University of Arizona, have acknowledged the utility of AI tools in creating course materials but expressed unease about OpenAI’s approach. A major concern is how the company might handle or potentially monetize the content teachers generate using its services. Although OpenAI’s terms of service state that users retain ownership of their outputs and that user data isn’t sold, doubts linger about the possibility of future policy changes.
The broader debate around AI in education also touches on issues of regulation. Organizations like UNESCO have called for stricter rules on AI use in classrooms, such as setting age limits and safeguarding data privacy. However, meaningful progress on these recommendations has been slow. Adding to the skepticism is OpenAI’s decision to focus solely on its own tools in its program, which some critics view as an attempt to position itself as the dominant player in AI education.
Not all feedback has been negative. Some experts see promise in OpenAI’s initiative. Josh Prieur, a former teacher and current product director at Prodigy Education, believes AI can benefit schools if adopted responsibly. He acknowledges concerns about plagiarism and the risk of overreliance on technology but emphasizes that proper education about AI’s risks and safeguards can ease these fears.
OpenAI appears committed to expanding its presence in education, viewing it as a growing market. The company recently hired a general manager of education and introduced ChatGPT Edu, a version of the chatbot designed for universities. This aligns with industry projections that AI in education could become a multi-billion-dollar market within the next decade. However, widespread adoption faces hurdles, with only a small percentage of teachers currently using AI tools and many school administrators prioritizing other challenges, such as staffing shortages.
Research on the impact of AI in education offers mixed results. Some studies show that students using ChatGPT may struggle with certain tasks, like synthesizing research materials or solving complex problems. This reinforces the idea that ChatGPT should not replace direct teacher-student interaction but rather serve as a supplementary tool.
For now, OpenAI’s initiative underscores the potential and challenges of bringing AI into classrooms. While the technology offers innovative possibilities, concerns about privacy, bias, and overdependence on AI need to be addressed before it can gain the trust of educators on a broader scale.
