By Abby Hsu ‘25, News Section Editor

Image of artificial intelligence robot considering algorithms (Courtesy of Copilot).

When asked to write the first sentence of a newspaper article about artificial intelligence (AI) in education, AI chatbot ChatGPT wrote: “As schools and universities increasingly integrate artificial intelligence into their curricula, educators and students alike are navigating the transformative impacts of this technology on the learning experience.”

The term “artificial intelligence” was actually first coined back in 1950, when British mathematician Alan Turing published an article “Computer Machinery and Intelligence” that proposed a test of machine intelligence. While AI models have been extensively researched and iterated for the past seven decades, artificial intelligence became all the more popular when ChatGPT was released on November 30, 2022.

Experts have a variety of opinions about the effects that artificial intelligence has on education. Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, stated in his TED Talk that AI has the potential to cause “probably the biggest positive transformation that education has ever seen.” However, many other experts believe that AI ruins the fundamental aspects of schooling. 

There are two main ways that artificial intelligence can positively transform education. First, AI models can allow teachers to better allocate their time. By performing monotonous tasks such as drafting lesson plans and designing curricula, AI can let teachers spend more individualized time with their students. For example, NA teachers noted that AI can design vocabulary quizzes for students, a standard assessment that does not require significant creativity. Furthermore, artificial intelligence will change the type of content that students learn. Dr. Liang of Stanford University argues that instead of thinking ‘for the student,’ AI models will force students to craft their own questions and reflect on their knowledge. According to Khan, the students will become “creative and ambitious architects.”

However, many other experts believe that AI ruins the fundamental aspects of schooling. As media sources have extensively reported, artificial intelligence models can be biased. When an AI model was asked to write like the author of “The Hate U Give” — a novel featuring an African American protagonist, ChatGPT simply added “yo” in front of sentences. Thus, AI fails to foster an equitable environment for learners, especially those in underserved, minority communities. Additionally, artificial intelligence models can hurt the fundamental learning process. English Teacher Dr. Lankin comments that “teaching is about getting students to learn and practice and do. AI that replaces the learning and practicing and doing takes away from the learning experience.” Thus, there needs to be comprehensive policies in place to preserve the integrity of education. 

While numerous educational institutions, companies, and even governments are forming AI policies, the growth of AI software outpaces many policymakers’ understandings of the technology. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) illustrated that only 7 percent of K-12 schools had “institutional policies concerning the use of generative AI applications.”

Newark Academy is currently forming a committee of faculty members from each department to develop an AI policy. Beginning last spring, NA conducted teacher training sessions, committee discussions, and extensive research about emerging AI software. Dr. Lankin describes that NA’s ultimate goal is to analyze “how to use AI as a tool without losing [the ability] to learn and practice work.” 

While AI is an incredibly powerful tool, its application needs to be restricted to preserve students’ educational experiences. However, Science Teacher and STEM Coordinator Mr. Crosby has hope: “Initially there will be some bumps in the road, and students will rely on it in ways they shouldn’t,” he says. “But once there is a greater understanding of AI and how it will be used, it will lead to a lot more interesting discussions and discoveries.” The NA community is looking forward to exploring how AI can be leveraged for educational purposes.