AI in Education Shows Most Promise for the Repetitive and Predictable -- THE Journal

An new RAND report has concluded that using artificial intelligence in education shows promise, but only when it comes to supporting teachers with repetitive and predictable tasks. According to author Robert Murphy, senior policy researcher for RAND Education, "the work of teachers and the act of teaching" can't be "completely automated like repetitive tasks taking place on the manufacturing floor. After all, he pointed out, "Good teaching is complex and requires creativity, flexibility, improvisation and spontaneity." Teachers need the abilities to "think logically and apply common sense, compassion and empathy to deal with the everyday nonacademic issues and problems that arise in the classroom." These are abilities that even the most advanced AI systems lack.