6 Myths about AI in Learning

The explosion of AI-powered learning tools has produced a mixed bag of responses from educators and L&D professionals. For some, artificial intelligence is a godsend. It streamlines mundane admin tasks and offers opportunities for more personalised student learning. However, others see it as a threat. Fears around job displacement and its impact on the quality of classroom teaching are just some of the concerns raised. The media hype surrounding the launch of ChatGPT has only served to heighten these fears. And many educators are left wondering whether they are still needed.  

The truth is AI has steadily crept into learning environments over recent decades. The popular language learning app Duolingo launched in 2011. And Stanford University’s training and development program Coursera came onto the market in 2012 and is a must-have in many L&D departments worldwide. Furthermore, the use of AI-powered chatbots to answer students’ queries and resolve simple issues is now commonplace in educational settings. These are just a few well-known examples of how AI has permeated learning.

One thing is for sure. AI in learning is here to stay, and the pace of change is fast and furious. The challenge is understanding the technology and ensuring it’s used to complement rather than replace human educators.

This post explores some of the myths surrounding artificial intelligence. We debunk the common misconceptions to help you make a balanced assessment of the challenges and the opportunities.

The number one myth is job displacement. And while it’s true that AI can automate admin tasks and even help with grading assignments and providing feedback, it’s unlikely to replace people altogether.

Student learning requires social interaction, creativity and critical thinking. AI cannot match humans when it comes to independent thinking and generating original ideas. We still need people to create the necessary conditions for effective learning.

The real potential of artificial intelligence is not in replacing people but rather in enhancing the learning experience. AI-powered virtual and augmented reality provide interactive and immersive learning opportunities that cannot be matched in classrooms. And AI’s ability to develop personalised learning pathways and experiences for students in seconds is an exciting development.

The bottom line is that AI and automation will change the roles of educators and L&D professionals. However, it also has the potential to enhance human productivity, freeing up time to focus on more critical, creative, strategic and interpersonal tasks.

There’s no denying that artificial intelligence is a powerful and effective tool. However, it’s not perfect. It can and does make mistakes.

AI models are created by humans and are powered by data determined by people. And they can be flawed if the data used to train AI models is incomplete or defective. With bad or incomplete data, AI can reach inaccurate conclusions.

For example, the AI algorithms in your email inbox are trained to detect spam messages. However, say you mistakenly tag emails from your partner as spam and tag all emails from Nigerian princes as good. It’s easy to see how your spam filter can go off the rails without the right data and human oversight.

And it’s a similar story with bias. If the data AI is trained on is biased, then the model will continue to perpetuate, or even amplify, existing biases in education.

Educators need to be vigilant and regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of any AI model. Moreover, make sure your AI models work on diverse and representative data and incorporate data transparency and fairness measures. That way, you will optimise the performance of AI and ensure it is being used responsibly and ethically.

Another common misconception is that AI understands and experiences human emotions. While AI systems can be programmed to recognise and respond to emotional cues in human communication, including tone of voice, facial expressions, and even word choice, they fall short of experiencing emotions.

AI’s emotional understanding is driven by data analysis and pattern recognition rather than the emotional intelligence we all share as people. And as we saw above, AI is only as good as the quality and quantity of the data it’s trained on.

However, the ability to understand emotions is useful in applications like chatbots and virtual assistants. Here the goal is to create a more personalised and human-like interaction with users. Some chatbots are now so advanced that users often don’t realise they are not talking to a person.

The breathtaking advances in AI have led many to conclude that, like some digital Frankenstein, it will inevitably exceed its creators. After all, AI has already demonstrated remarkable abilities in various areas, including image and speech recognition, natural language processing, and strategic decision-making.

However, it’s impossible to predict the future. And while some researchers believe that AI can become sentient in the future, others are more sceptical.

What we do know is that currently, AI is far from achieving artificial general intelligence. It doesn’t have the creative abilities or emotional intelligence of people. Most AI models are designed for specific tasks and are constrained and limited by those parameters.

The development of artificial intelligence is a rapidly evolving field. And while progress is inevitable, we are unlikely to see sentient AI any time soon.

AI and the human brain share some similarities. Both involve processing and interpreting information but work in very different ways.

The human brain is a complex biological organ capable of a broad range of tasks, including sensory perception, language processing, decision-making, and much more. The brain uses a network of neurons and electrochemical signals to communicate, process and store information. However, despite many years of scientific research, we still don’t fully understand how the brain works.

By contrast, AI systems process information using mathematical algorithms and computational power. These algorithms are based on statistical models, and AI is trained on large datasets to recognise patterns and make predictions. While AI systems can be very powerful and effective at certain tasks, they are far from matching the human brain’s complexity, adaptability and emotional intelligence. It’s like comparing a state-of-art fighter jet to a kite because both can fly.

Artificial intelligence has shown great potential in solving complex problems and making accurate predictions. However, it’s not a magic wand for solving all the world’s problems.

AI relies on algorithms and data to make predictions and decisions, meaning it’s only as effective as the quality of the inputs. If the data it’s working with is biased or incomplete, its solutions may not be accurate or ethical.

And not all problems are suited to AI-based solutions. Artificial intelligence is most effective for tasks that can be broken down into well-defined, structured problems. It struggles with issues that require intuition, creativity or emotional input. AI can be an incredibly powerful tool for solving some problems, but it’s not a panacea for all challenges. Recognising its limitations and using AI alongside human judgement and expertise is essential to achieving the best results.

Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise the way we learn and teach. AI makes it possible to personalise pathways for each student so that they learn at their own pace and level. And AI-powered learning systems can adapt to students’ needs, providing targeted feedback and support to help them achieve their learning objectives.

And it also has much to offer educators and L&D professionals, from automating administrative tasks to providing insights into student performance and engagement. Furthermore, AI can identify areas of strength and weakness in students’ learning, allowing educators to create customised learning plans that meet their needs.

That said, one thing it won’t do is replace human teachers and educators any time soon.

Instead, AI is a fantastic tool to support and enhance the learning experience. However, education professionals must strike the right balance between technology and human interaction. After all, only people can foster the critical thinking, creativity, and social skills needed for student success.