Will Artificial Intelligence help to transform education?

Covid19 has shown up inequalities in several ways. For example, the so-called digital divide has been exacerbated by lockdowns obliging schools to close. Those pupils who have least access to technology clearly suffer the most, in educational terms. On the plus side, many schools have adapted remarkably well, and impressively quickly, to the need to provide online teaching.

However, teaching tasks and teaching methods have not, according to the author, been impacted by the possibilities afforded by artificial intelligence. Neither have traditional approaches adequately addressed social immobility. The book sets out ideas for where AI could help, and how it is already showing promise in some areas.

However, despite acknowledging barriers to implementation such as cost and slow-moving government, the author might be described as a techno-optimist, although he does acknowledge some of the fears associated with AI.

For example, in a section entitled “Loss of jobs and quality of life”, he puts the questions:

I find it somewhat odd that the author doesn’t attempt to answer these questions, even if they are (as I hope) intended to provoke discussion, given that this book is a “Covid Edition”. Given the amount of air and column space given these days to mental health issues linked to lockdowns and finance the answer would be a resounding “Yes”. (Only this morning I was reading an article entitled A warning from Japan about the increase in suicides there among women and children.)

Nevertheless, the book is a comprehensive overview of research and developments, and will provide the serious thinker with plenty of food for thought.

I was sent a complimentary review copy of this book.

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