Unesco on Thursday released its first guidance on the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for education, urging government agencies to regulate use of the technology, including protecting data privacy and setting age limits for users.
Launched in November by Microsoft-backed OpenAI, the GenAI chatbot ChatGPT has become by far the world’s fastest-growing app, prompting the release of rivals such as Google’s Bard.
Students also love GenAI, which can generate anything from papers to math calculations with just a few lines of prompts.
“We are trying to keep the pace of transformation of the education system in line with the pace of technological advancement and advances in machine learning models,” Education Ministry Assistant Director-General Stefania Giannini told Reuters.
“In many cases, governments and schools are adopting a completely foreign technology that even leading technologists don’t claim to understand,” she said.
In a series of guidelines in a 64-page report, Unesco highlighted the need for government-approved AI curricula in schools and technical and vocational education and training.
“GenAI providers are accountable for ensuring adherence to core values and legitimate purposes, respect for intellectual property rights, and upholding ethical practices, while preventing the spread of disinformation and hate speech,” UNESCO said.
It also calls for prevention of GenAI, which would deprive learners of opportunities to develop cognitive and social skills through observation of the real world, experiential practices such as experiments, discussions with other people, and independent logical reasoning.
While China already has GenAI rules in place, the EU’s AI bill is likely to be approved later this year. Other countries are far behind in drafting their own AI laws.
The Paris-based institution also seeks to protect the rights of teachers and researchers when using GenAI and its practical value.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
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