The fact that the world is now in the midst of what many consider an human vs AI intelligence revolution has led to the conversation about these things moving away from being primarily science fiction or tech conference topics and instead growing to include all areas of society, including education and learning. We now have many examples of this growth, with many examples of such tools as AI tutors and automated grading systems changing the way knowledge is both produced and consumed and then evaluated. It begs the question: In education how is the future determined by human intelligence, artificial intelligence, or both?
Instead of seeing this question as a competition between two opposing entities, we must understand that the true future of education will require people to embrace and appreciate the strengths and limitations of both types of intelligence. By doing so, we can create a wiser and more equitable education ecosystem.
Understanding Human Intelligence in Education
Human intelligence has deep emotional, contextual, and adaptive components. It is formed by culture, empathy, moral reasoning, creativity and experiences. In the past, human intelligence has always been at the forefront of traditional education systems with teachers providing guidance to students, nurturing critical thinking and stimulating their natural curiosity.
When you compare human intelligence vs ai with regard to learning, human intelligence excels at:
- Empathy and emotional understanding
- Moral Augmentation
- Creativity and Imagination
- Social Interaction and Communication
- Cultural/contextual awareness
A teacher doesn’t just provide knowledge to a student; they also provide inspiration and motivation and adapt to the learner’s emotional needs—something that has yet to be authentically imitated by AI.
Definition of AI in Education?
The Definition of Artificial Intelligence is machines created to imitate/ mimic the cognitive capability of humans by collecting information, and Analysing data to establish trends/ patterns, determine what type of knowledge a human has acquired, and make decisions based on this analysis. Artificial Intelligence will already provide multiple solutions to enhance the educational experience within the following areas:
- Personalized Learning Platforms
- Automated Assessments/Grading
- Learning Analytics/Progress Monitoring
- Adaptive Content Recommendations
When comparing human vs AI, AI excels in many areas, including efficiency, ability to reach thousands or millions of learners, and consistency. Artificial Intelligence helps make quality education available to more people, especially in India and other developing nations.
Differences in How Humans and AI Learn
Human and AI learning is just as different as they are similar. If we want to ensure the future of learning, we need to look at the differences between human and AI learning. The two main types of learning styles for humans and AI respectively are:
1) How humans learn.
Humans use emotions, social situations, mistakes, and self-reflection to learn. AI uses data and algorithms to recognise patterns through repeated use of these patterns to learn.
2) Human Creativity.
Humans have the ability to create original thoughts, art, and philosophies based on what they know, whereas AI uses data to generate ideas or concepts from existing knowledge and data.
3) Adaptability.
The ability of humans to adapt to non-preplanned, unexpected situations is innate, while AI is limited to adapting to programmed parameters or what they’ve been taught to do.
It is this distinction that supports the premise that humans and AI are not in competition but rather are working together to help improve our systems for the future!
The benefits of using AI for Educational Personalization
A key advantage of using AI in Education is that it allows for personalisation of the learning experience. Most traditional educational systems use a single approach for all students; however, there is no single approach that will work for all students.
However, when using AI, the AI software is able to:
- Tune content levels on the fly
- Identify student gaps in learning immediately
- Provide relevant and personalised study material
- Enable students to learn at a pace that suits them.
AI can also assist teachers by enabling them to mentor more effectively, while doing the routine and repetitive tasks in education.
For students in both developed countries, e.g. US and UK, and developing nations, e.g. India, this means that the education process is individualised to suit each student’s needs and allows for more access to quality, affordable education on a larger scale.
Is it possible for Artificial Intelligence to replace educators?
This topic has led to many searches regarding the debate of the human vs AI debate; and the answer is easily found: no, A.I. does not have enough of its strengths in order to completely take over Futures.
AI can deliver lessons and assess students’ work through testing, and can assist with answering questions, but it lacks:
- Emotional Intelligence
- A Moral Compass
- Ability to inspire other people through Leadership
- Experience of the ‘Real-Life’
Teachers help provide students with value systems, confidence and develop their social skills. AI works better as a resource for educators rather than an alternative.
Human vs AI in Skill Development
Skills development is now more than just receiving information. Today’s society requires a holistic approach to education by focusing on creativity, collaboration, adaptability and problem-solving.
- Human strengths include:
- Teamwork and Leadership
- The ability to develop resilience through all life’s ups and downs.
- Critical/ethical/reasoned thinking.
- Articulation of emotion or emotional intelligence.
- Computer skills, including training, analytical, and utilizing simulation techniques.
When viewed through the lens of human vs AI, the learner who will prevail will be one who possesses the combination of a human’s ability along with an understanding of using AI as a tool for learning.
Ethics Involved With The Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Education
With the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into educational settings, the potential for ethical dilemmas will continue to grow:
- Surveillance to monitor students through data privacy
- Algorithms that are biased against certain genders or races
- Excessive dependence on automation
- Lack of personal relationships between students and their teachers
While humans continue to control and determine what is acceptable for “the AI” (or how to use AI), guidance must still come from ethical principles developed/implemented/monitored by humans.
Worldwide Effects: US, UK, India, Canada, and Everywhere
The effect of AI on education differs by region.
US & UK: Emphasis on innovative technologies and the growth of the EdTech industry and AI-enhanced educational settings for teachers and students.
India: A wide range of AI learning applications reaching many poorly served and lagging behind demographic areas.
Canada: Assuredly has a strong commitment to maintaining a good balance of technology and teacher assistance, high ethical standards and emphasis on inclusivity.
For all countries, the balance between humans and technology will dictate if education gaps close or are widened.
Students Prepared To Work With Artificial Intelligence
Instead of attempting to determine if humans will defeat or surpass AI, the question should be how best can students can work and thrive together with AI?
Education designed for the future must develop:
- AI Literacy and Digital Skill Set
- Critical Thought Process Over Memorization
- Creativity & Emotional Intelligence
- The Ability to Be a Lifelong Learner
Students who will best succeed are those who understand how AIs work and the areas of intelligence that AIs cannot replicate.
Collaborative future of learning
The future of education does not have a singular focus on human intelligence or artificial intelligence, but rather focuses on collaborating.
For an ideal learning experience:
- AI = data, personalization, and automation
- human = guide, mentor, and inspire
- technology = create access while enhancing the human connection.
This balanced approach sees the future of education as a partnership between humans and AI rather than a competition.
Final Thoughts: Humans/AI Working Together, not The Outcome of a Contest
As we consider our future regarding learning and education, it is clear that humans and artificial intelligence are not competing for supremacy; they are instead evolving together collaborating to create a better world.
AI provides massive amounts of available in-depth information plus ability to analyze it. Human Intelligence provides us with the ability to empathize, create and act ethically while acting with a purpose.
By combining both human intelligence with the power of AI, we can build a more inclusive, productive and future-friendly educational system than we currently have.
Countries that invest both in the infrastructure of AI plus empowering people to use the tools wisely will see the greatest success.
In the future, educated individuals will collaborate with an AI rather than work against it.
Kotaru Venkata Ramana
I write about AI in education and AI exploration, focusing on how artificial intelligence can support learning, teaching, and the future of education in simple and practical ways.