The "Godmother of AI" says the biggest AI risk in schools isn't cheating – it's students losing the desire to learn

<The Godmother of AI says the biggest AI risk in schools isn't cheating – it's students losing the desire to learn>

Fei-Fei Li, often hailed as The Godmother of AI, has expressed concern that the biggest risk posed by artificial intelligence in schools isn't students using it to cheat – it's students losing their intrinsic motivation to learn. The Stanford computer science professor made these remarks during an appearance on the science podcast Huberman Lab. Li believes that while AI can be a powerful tool to assist struggling students, it has the potential to erode young people's desire to engage in the learning process independently.

Li argued that the absolute worst outcome would be a generation of graduates who rely on AI without actively trying to acquire knowledge themselves. She emphasized that this would leave students without having properly developed their cognitive abilities. When it comes to AI use in educational settings, the conversation has largely focused on the issue of academic dishonesty since the mainstreaming of ChatGPT.

However, Li contends that there hasn't been enough discussion about how AI can cause many students to lose both their motivation and capacity to learn.

Researchers have observed that AI is making students faster at retrieving information, but they are losing their depth of thinking. One educator, Vivienne Ming, chief scientist at the Possibility Institute, noted that many of the AI users she studied were primarily using the technology to avoid thinking for themselves. While Li does not advocate for a complete ban on students using AI, she believes it's crucial to find a way to preserve their motivation and agency.

Li suggested that providing students with appropriate access to AI tools and teaching them how to use them effectively could help maintain their desire to learn.

Li highlighted that if AI is employed appropriately in education, it could make the students of the future far smarter than their predecessors by supercharging their cognitive abilities. Various initiatives are underway to strike this balance. OpenAI has introduced a study mode designed to promote critical thinking rather than simply providing answers.

Some computer science professors have shifted their focus from teaching coding syntax to higher-level problem-solving. The UK government has also endorsed the use of ChatGPT for homework, arguing that it could be particularly beneficial for children who struggle with traditional learning methods.