Generative AI presents opportunities and challenges to UK schools | Computer Weekly
Summary
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and the associated large language models (LLMs) used by services such as ChatGPT and Google Bard may prove to be hugely beneficial tools in the classroom, but schools will need to review and strengthen their cyber security postures and teachers will need to work harder to safeguard students, the Department for Education (DfE) has said. Speaking at the Bett show in London, education secretary Gillian Keegan said: “AI will have the power to transform a teacher’s day-to-day work. In the full statement, the DfE said that used appropriately, generative AI had the potential to become a useful administrative assistant for teachers, reducing the time they spend on non-pupil-facing activities and allowing them to focus more on their core education mission. For example, the use of LLMs to generate increasingly convincing phishing emails could put schools at greater risk of falling victim to serious cyber incidents up to and including ransomware attacks. Turning to homework and other forms of unsupervised study, the DfE is recommending schools begin to review their existing policies in this area to account for the widespread public availability of generative AI.