Active neuroscience research shows that learning is a physical, biological, energy-dependent activity that occurs in response to sensory inputs. These stimuli, instigate changes in the connections of neurons to one another which are referred to as synapses and ultimately the neural network. Acquiring new knowledge or skills, developing critical thinking, developing oratory, musical skills and so on are examples of these basic neurobiological processes and events.We learn only due to these interactions between our brains and the environment. Active learning leads to comprehension and longer retention. Over learning leads to competency. Experience helps to hone the skills.
This brings me to the topic of Artificial intelligence. There is a lot of hype created over AI. It certainly provides quick answers, saves one’s time and energy. Whether it provides the basis for learning to happen among students? While toying with this dilemma an opportunity came my way. Prof. Dr. David Turner was to speak on AI: what it can and cannot do for teachers under the aegis of World Education Fellowship (Indian Section). Here my doubts were put to rest. A summary of that talk as I understood it.
AI is not to be blindly followed. Sometimes, it lacks the ability to do a few things that a small child can do easily. It cannot create a new genre. Technology of AI is the same as that of some social networks. He played for us the TED talk of Jennifer Globeck. She mentions one factor that needs to be looked into while using AI and that is reliability. She stresses on the fact that AI has a tendency to hallucinate. Dr. Turner mentioned about an incident where AI stated that Alan Musk was killed in an accident. We also tried a little exercise to check the reliability. How many Rs are found in Strawberry we asked. ChatGPt said 2!
Some pitfalls of AI can be Privacy concerns, bias and Ethical challenges.
Therefore, it is advisable to tread cautiously. Do not take the data at face value. Check for reliability. Train the students to decipher reality from misinformation. Encourage students not to copy paste directly but to Check for authenticity. No doubt AI is useful. Do not copy and paste AI matter. Verify and use. Use it in a way thinking is not affected.
Global consumption of electricity for AI is 3.5% of total production. This is only going to increase over the years. As a global citizen one needs to be conscious of the Climate change. This pushed me to read what Musk has to say about AI. Shocking I must Say!
Alan Musk said, AI is humanity’s “biggest existential threat” and compared it to “summoning the demon.” Musk didn’t stop there. “I have exposure to the most cutting-edge AI, and I think people should be really concerned by it,” he said. “AI path is a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization.”
We are standing at the dividing road, which road to take is for us to decide.