AI chatbots to teach Harvard University students
The Ivy League University plans to incorporate AI to teach students in CS classes.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is now included in Harvard University’s coding curriculum. In its renowned Computer Science 50: Introduction to Computer Science (CS50) course, the university intends to use an AI chatbot with ChatGPT’s capabilities as an instructor.
The program’s professors have proposed that the AI teacher be built using OpenAI’s advanced GPT 3.5 or GPT 4 models, demonstrating Harvard’s dedication to utilizing cutting-edge AI technology for educational purposes. Students who have signed up for the program will be expected to use this artificial intelligence technology when it begins in September.
CS50 professor David Malan told the Harvard Crimson, “Our own hope is that, through AI, we can eventually approximate a 1:1 teacher: student ratio for every student in CS50, by providing them with software-based tools that, 24/7, can support their learning at a pace and in a style that works best for them individually,”
The launch of the AI chatbot instructor aligns with an extraordinary rise in the popularity of AI solutions. Launched in November 2022, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has rapidly surpassed all other apps in terms of rate of growth. The chatbot gained an astonishing 100 million active users in just two months. Users were drawn to the chatbot because of its wide range of abilities, including writing poetry and essays and creating computer code.
However, every company including Google has recognized that there is still much work to do with the AI technology’s accuracy. They also issued a warning that every piece of information provided by Google’s AI chatbot, Bard, might not be accurate or true and users should be aware of the loopholes and limitations.
Harvard’s professor Marin also recognized these limitations but he is assured that students will encounter the use of critical thinking while dealing with AI. He remains optimistic about the tools and emphasizes that students and teachers together will be very important for continuous improvement of this technology.
