“Trojan horse”: AI at school worries teachers and parents
Several countries are already experimenting with AI in classrooms. In the UK, the Sparx Maths app uses algorithms to track student progress. The British government has invested €4.7 million in creating AI tools to help teachers create course materials.
AI in education raises concerns
In France, while we are looking to develop a sovereign AIthe Mia Seconde application missed its launch at the start of the 2024 school year. But the deployment of this tool allowing personalized exercises in French and mathematics was suspended following government changes. Its creator, the start-up EvidenceB, has since established itself in Italy and Spain.
American technology giants are also interested in AI in education, notably Microsoft and OpenAI. Companies are increasing their partnerships with start-ups and promoting their tools to educational establishments.
But this incursion of AI worries, in particular Manos Antoninis, director of the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, who sees it as a “Trojan horse” to access future consumers. The expert is concerned about the commercial use of the data collected and the biases of the algorithms.
The human dimension in education is vital
Sparx Maths also provokes criticism from parents in the United Kingdom. They say the app discourages interest in math. As for teachers, a study by the Pew Research Center reveals that only 6% of American high school teachers see more advantages than disadvantages in the use of AI in education.
The solutions “edtech” and the governments of the UK and China are talking about personalized learning. But the argument is also called into question. Manos Antoninis reminds us that teaching has a human dimension which is based on interactions between students. Leon Furze, a former Australian professor who is now an expert in generative AI for education, calls this personalization isolating.
According to Leon Furze, technology is useful in specific contexts but cannot replace human labor and solve the socio-economic, cultural and political challenges faced by teachers and students.
