OpenAI is making big strides in incorporating its ChatGPT technology into educational environments. This decision was made following initial worries that the AI tool could be exploited for academic dishonesty. During the INSEAD Americas Conference in San Francisco, OpenAI's chief operating officer, Brad Lightcap, announced that the company is establishing a specialized team to investigate the potential educational uses of ChatGPT.
At first, the launch of ChatGPT ignited a craze for generative AI. The initial response from educators worldwide to its capacity for generating new, human-like content, ranging from essays to novel drafts, was one of alarm. The potential for enabling cheating and plagiarism in schools was a cause for concern for many, leading to a quick backlash and the implementation of restrictions in educational institutions.
“Teachers thought it was the worst thing that had ever happened," Reuters quoted Lightcap as saying. “(Now) most teachers are trying to figure out ways to incorporate (ChatGPT) into the curriculum and into the way they teach."
“We at OpenAI are trying to help them think through the problem, and we probably next year will establish a team with the sole intent of doing that," he added.
Lightcap reports that teachers who were initially skeptical are now acknowledging the potential advantages of incorporating ChatGPT into education. He said that the technology's ability to help with different aspects of learning, such as creating original content and offering personalized tutoring, is attracting attention.
The OpenAI team's proposal aims to expand the company's current initiatives in making ChatGPT suitable for classroom utilization. OpenAI is already working with educational organizations such as Khan Academy to create AI-powered tutoring tools and with Schmidt Futures to help educational programs in underserved communities.
