What is AI?

The term 'Artificial Intelligence' (AI) was first used in 1956, when researchers discussed the possibility of creating machines that could simulate any intellectual task that a human can do.

The concept of intelligent machines has a far longer history, dating back to ancient Greece, and philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato.

The Scottish AI Strategy describes AI in the following way:

"Technologies used to allow computers to perform tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and language translation. AI is a broad discipline. Think of it as a group of complementary technologies, including data-driven techniques, which are evolving constantly".

Where is AI being used?

AI is currently being used in a whole range of day to day applications, including:

• health care: to help diagnose diseases and analyse medical images
• business and finance: fraud detection, risk assessment, and trading algorithms in financial markets
• transport: self-driving cars and traffic control
• retail: product recommendations and customer service chatbots
• entertainment: content recommendation, natural language processing in virtual assistants, and facial recognition in video games

These are just a few examples of the many areas where AI is currently being used. As the technology continues to advance, we can expect to see AI playing an increasingly important role in many different industries and applications.

Using AI in education

AI could be used in education:

• to personalise learning: using data to create individual learning pathways for learners
• to create tutoring systems: one-on-one tutoring, providing real-time feedback and support
• for grading and assessment and administrative tasks
• for student support: chatbots could provide learners with instant support and guidance, answering common questions

It’s important to explore and evaluate the benefits and issues around using AI driven applications in learning and teaching.

ChatGPT is a natural-language tool. It allows users to have a human-like conversation. It can provide support with a range of tasks. In 2023 the Italian government suspended its use due to perceived issues around the use of personal data, and then subsequently reversed this decision. Educators have raised concerns around plagiarism. Confidential or personal information should never be shared with this or other services.

DALL-E2 can provide images and art from descriptions provided by the user. The development of the service has raised issues around copyright and intellectual property rights.

"When used appropriately, technology (including generative AI), has the potential to reduce workload across the education sector, and free up teachers’ time, allowing them to focus on delivering excellent teaching". Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education, Department for Education (March 2023)

Improvement questions

1. How can you improve your own understanding and learning around AI, its development and uses?
2. What professional networks or methods could you use to support a better understanding of AI amongst educators, learners, parents and carers?
3. Can you identify one area of your current teaching practice where you could pilot the use of AI and evaluate the outcomes?
4. What opportunities or challenges for learners and learning might AI bring?

Further reading

Crawford, K. Atlas of AI. Yale. 2021.

Gawdat, M. Scary Smart: The Future of AI. London. 2021.

Scott, P J. Artificial Intelligence and You: What AI Means for Your Life, Your Work, and Your World. Denver, Colorado. 2022.

Web Links

Home | AI In Education (ai-in-education.co.uk)

AI and Education with the Goodison Group in Scotland

AI at Glasgow University

DigiLearn (glowscotland.org.uk)

Research Brief

A series of research papers produced by the Data, Performance and Research team in Education Scotland.

PDF file: Literature Review on the Impact of AI in Education (AIED) (375 KB)

PDF file: AI based Assessment in Education (AIBA): evidence review (337 KB)

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in Education (175 KB)

Note

The image on this page was created using DALL-E 2, with the instruction ‘create an AI graphic in the style of Salvador Dali’. ChatGPT was used to support the development of content.