Former UN diplomat Syed Akbaruddin warns against AI, ChatGPT replacing teachers

HYDERABAD: Former permanent representative of India to the United Nations and Dean of Kautilya School of Public Policy Syed Akbaruddin has warned against the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classrooms, saying that it could lead to teachers being replaced.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Centenary Educators Conference at the Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, Akbaruddin said that AI was a powerful tool that could be used to enhance learning, but it was important to use it wisely.

"We are in an era of education being transformed, more than in any time our living memory. AI and ChatGPT are shaping up classrooms. These are tempting tools, but don't envisage robots will teach you quantum physics or values. Teachers will be the repositories of values," he said.

Akbaruddin also raised concerns about the impact of AI on students' mental health. He said that AI could be used to track students' progress and provide them with feedback, but it was important to ensure that this was done in a way that did not harm their self-esteem.

"Let's not ignore the concerns. Instead of mastering foundation skills, will AI not lead to muscle atrophy of their neural learning process? Will students lose their natural ability to write? Look at technology and beyond through its thoughtful applications, what it means and for humans collectively. Let technology augment humanity but does not overshadow it," he said.

Other speakers at the conference also stressed on the importance of personalized learning and emotional quotient (EQ).

UNESCO-MGIEP Director Dr. Anantha Duraiappah said that personalised learning was fundamental to UNESCO Article 26.

"Globally, 70 per cent of kids at the age of 10 cannot read. The other major problem is mental health. There must be a quantum of social and emotional resilience. Each child has some form of learning difference. Framework for the implementation of AI for ethics and guidelines are necessary. Intergovernmental bureau on AI for education involving Government and multi-stakeholders, and even youth networks will oversee AI as a neural body. They will regulate and manage all the learning platforms. Selection of AI for different learning outcomes for generic learning; and AI for teaching should be a list AI identified, audited against ethical standards, and certified," he said.

The Guest of Honour, V Karuna, Secretary to Government, Education Department, Govt of Telangana, said, "Teachers have the power to make difference in students’ lives. We need to make our children more and more relevant. The moral values have a critical role in the conflicting world. Education is also what you are as a person, how you are in your professional relationships, what responsibilities you carry as a citizen."

The Centenary Educators Conference is being organised by the Hyderabad Public Schools to provide direction in the further development of the schools to become global institutions of educationas l excellence. The conference is being attended by over 700 prominent educators and thought leaders from various disciplines within the educational sphere.

The conference will focus on a wide range of topics, including the use of technology in education, the future of teaching, and the importance of values education. The conference will also feature keynote addresses from renowned educators and visionaries, sharing their insights on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the education sector.

The conference is a step towards achieving the ‘School Vision 2050’, which is a road map for the further development of its four schools, over the next three decades. The school has earmarked an investment of 12-15 cr in the next 5 years for upskilling educators, teaching and learning support, and counselling as the Educator’s conclave is set to be an annual affair.