Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education : Dancing with the AI Tiger
Louise Rubic | MPH , BHSc ( Comp Med ), Senior Lecturer , Nutrition Vertical , Torrens University Australia
Abstract
The most recent ATMS Educators Forum delved into the implications of large language models ( LLMs ) within the higher education landscape , exploring our engagement with artificial intelligence ( AI ) as both a transformative ally and a formidable challenge . Inspired by the discourse in preparation for the event , the forum presentation titled ‘ Artificial Intelligence : Dancing with the Tiger ’, was developed to describe a brief AI history and acknowledged the nuanced dance with ChatGPT , an emblematic figure of chat-based generative AI . During the forum a word cloud survey resulted in two dominating perceptions of AI : potential and scary . These perceptions made way for insightful discussions from educators and students , concluding that AI is already pervasive in education and that navigating through its potential perils and harnessing its promises to foster a more inclusive and dynamic learning environment is becoming essential .
Introduction
The introduction of AI into the educational domain , epitomised by LLMs such as ChatGPT , heralds a potential paradigm shift towards greater inclusivity and enhanced pedagogical methodologies . 1 AI ' s repertoire , spanning from natural language processing ( NLP ) to complex decisionmaking capabilities , mirrors human cognitive functions , offering a unique conduit for replicating and augmenting human learning experiences . This very capability is causing mixed feelings among educators who must now navigate how these rapidly evolving generative AI tools can be used constructively and safely . 2 This article traces the trajectory of AI ' s evolution and revisits some of the concepts arising from discussions in the recent ATMS Educators Forum , exploring digital pedagogy , new challenges for educators , the prevalence of AI uptake by students and educators , as well as the benefits that generative AI technology offers .
Historical Context and Technological Evolution
AI is a melding of machines and software that learn , reason and adapt as humans do in tasks such as interpreting natural language , visual perception , and the decision-making processes . However , it has been said that AI is hard to clearly define as it is imitating something we don ' t fully understand , that being our own human intelligence . Mid-last century , mastery of chess was seen as ‘ the fruit fly of intelligence ’ and ‘ if one could devise a successful chess machine , one would seem to have penetrated to the core of human intellectual endeavour ’. 3 IBM ' s Deep Blue chess computer beat the world ’ s best chess player in 1997 , which was heralded as a breakthrough for human-level intelligence in machines .
From IBM ' s Deep Blue to OpenAI ' s groundbreaking initiatives , the technological evolution of AI has been marked by significant milestones that underscore the transition from rudimentary machine learning to advanced deep learning instruments . In 2015 , OpenAI was founded as a non-
32 | vol30 | no1 | JATMS