Report: The risks of AI in schools outweigh the benefits : NPR

TLDR

A new report from the Brookings Institution's Center for Universal Education warns that the risks of using AI in schools currently outweigh the benefits. The study, which includes input from K-12 students, parents, educators, and tech experts in 50 countries, found that AI can undermine children's cognitive development and emotional well-being. While AI can assist with language acquisition and ease some tasks for teachers, it also poses threats to critical thinking, creativity, and social-emotional skills. The report recommends strategies to mitigate these risks, including fostering curiosity, promoting AI literacy, and ensuring equitable access to accurate AI tools.

I know AI in education is a hot topic. I’m not a proponent of it for many reasons (e.g. cognitive offloading, assumption of correct information, biases, environmental impact). But, I still listen to how others are using it. Sharing this summary of a report that looks at some pros/cons of AI in education.