AI in Public Education: Humble Beginnings and Revolutionary Potential
Artificial intelligence (AI) is often discussed in the context of workplace automation, self-driving cars, lethal autonomous weapons or, more recently, in conjunction with generative AI platforms. Less frequent in discussions of artificial intelligence—both in how AI systems are presently in use, and how they may be deployed in the future—is mention of AI’s impact in the civilian public sphere. This is particularly true with respect to how AI is impacting, and will impact, public education systems around the world. In this chapter, we examine recent past and current uses of AI in public education in China, India, the United States, Africa, the European Union, and Latin America. We also discuss government plans to expand those uses in the future. The Indian government is ahead of those in both China and the United States in articulating a vision for how AI can be used to reshape public education for the better. The EU has resources, but, because of the summer 2024 implementation of the AI Act, is proceeding cautiously. Countries throughout Africa and Latin America are interested in AI for educational purposes but some are finding infrastructure and resource challenges. Finally, we analyze these uses in the context of such considerations as school demographics, fairness, civil liberties and differing cultural views of privacy, and broader AI surveillance.
