Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing many fields, and education is no exception. More and more schools and educational establishments are integrating AI into their teaching methods. Students are making massive use of AI to help them with homework and assignments.

With massive state investment in artificial intelligence and the promising potential of these technologies, the use of AI is set to increase in the coming years.

In this article, we explore the AI opportunities and challenges of this new educational era. We will also focus on the use of AI in higher education.

 

Contents:

 

AI and Education: What Impact?

Since the arrival of ChatGPT in 2022, artificial intelligence tools have seen massive use among students, particularly because they are easily accessible and free.

According to our survey of over 5,600 students and teachers, carried out in partnership with Institut Sphinx, 9 out of 10 teachers believe that students use AI for their academic work. Furthermore, 1 in 2 students use generative AI tools at least occasionally. Another recent study by the Digital Education Council (August 2024, 4,000 students surveyed in 16 countries) shows that these figures are even higher, revealing that 86% of students use AI as part of their studies.

On the other hand, teachers are not to be outdone: they also use generative AI for various pedagogical tasks, such as preparing exams and assessments, or even grading them.

AI and education are therefore closely linked. The impact of AI is considerable, and will be even greater in the years to come: it opens the way to new opportunities and benefits, but also raises challenges and concerns.

 

AI Opportunities in Education

 

How do you think artificial intelligence is revolutionizing education?

Thanks to AI, teaching is evolving quickly and efficiently, offering exciting new opportunities for both students and teachers. These opportunities may concern the automation of certain time-consuming tasks, the adaptation of learning or even the use of AI as an assistant to progress more quickly with hard tasks such as writing. 

Let's discover together the pros of AI in education!

pros ai education

5 Pros of AI in Education
 

Personalized learning with artificial intelligence

One of AI's strengths in education lies in its ability to personalize learning. AI-based adaptive learning systems can analyze learners' individual strengths and weaknesses, identify gaps and provide targeted resources to address these difficulties.

 

 

Interactive experiences thanks to AI

Another exciting facet of AI use in education is the creation of interactive experiences. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are AI-based technologies. They enable students to explore virtual environments, manipulate 3D objects and participate in realistic simulations. This creates immersive and engaging learning opportunities, making abstract concepts more tangible and facilitating understanding. 

 

Educational decisions enlightened with AI data

AI also enables teachers to make more informed educational decisions through data analysis. AI systems can collect information on student performance, learning habits, preferences and general trends. This data can help teachers identify areas where students need extra support, adjust their teaching accordingly and provide more personalized feedback. Using dashboards and analysis tools, teachers can monitor learners' progress and adapt in real time to optimize teaching effectiveness.

 

advantages of ai in education

Automation of time-consuming tasks for teachers

AIs can make daily life easier for teachers by by automating certain administrative tasksautomating the correction of assessments can save teachers hours and hours of time, enabling them to invest their time and effort in other, more productive activities, while guaranteeing equal opportunities for all students. AI can also be used in the assessment creation process, to update tests and come up with new ideas. It can also be used to manage timetables.

An academic writing and thinking assistant for students

 

More specifically, text-generating AIs such as ChatGPT or Gemini can be used on a daily basis by students as a thinking assistant or writing assistant, to demystify complex concepts, find ideas to advance thinking on a particular subject, or help with writing by reformulating and formatting ideas.

Text-generating artificial intelligences are powerful enough to generate ideas in bulk, they can also help students generate a work plan: essay plan, assignment plan, presentation plan.

artificial intelligence higher education

3 Concrete Examples of AI Benefits in Education
 

Personalized learning in math and languages

In math, an AI-powered platform can analyze a student's mistakes and provide tailored exercises to address their gaps. For example, a student struggling with fractions will receive progressive exercises and interactive explanations until they master the concept.

 

Automating the grading of assessments

A teacher can program a generative AI like ChatGPT to analyze and grade open-ended responses based on predefined criteria. For example, in a literature exam, AI can compare a student's answer to a grading rubric and assign a score based on argument relevance and coherence. Other tools, such as Gingo, are specifically designed to automate the grading of papers, helping teachers save time.

 

A writing assistant to structure a thesis

A student writing a thesis on the impact of AI on the job market and struggling to get started can use ChatGPT to generate a detailed outline. The AI can suggest an introduction that sets the context, a structured plan with different sections (benefits, challenges, future outlook), and ideas for development. However, AI usage must be approved by the institution, and the student must properly cite it following established citation formats such as APA or MLA.

 

Challenges of AI in Education

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education, enabling the personalization of learning and interactive experiences. However, it is essential to also consider the possible regressions that AI can bring to the educational field. 

If not properly regulated, AI use can hinder the development of essential skills. By making certain tasks too easy, AI may discourage students from engaging in the learning process, weaken their critical thinking, and promote practices like cheating witch ChatGPT instead of fostering lasting knowledge.

Let's discover together the challenges of AI in education đꑇ

cons ai education

5 cons of ai in education
 

Loss of personal reasoning ability

Students may be tempted to regularly use text-generating artificial intelligence to write assignments for them. As they get into the habit of using it, they lose their ability to think for themselves. Their critical faculties are weakened.

Excessive dependence on technology

One major concern is the over-reliance on technology that AI can bring to education. When teachers and students rely exclusively on AI systems for learning, this can lead to a breakdown in knowledge sharing and learning. For example, some students use ChatGPT to write their dissertations or theses without disclosing the use of AI. This is considered a form of cheating similar to plagiarism, which can result in severe penalties for students.

 

Confidentiality and protection of data

Another major concern is the confidentiality of data and the protection of their privacy. The use of AI involves the collection and analysis of sensitive data by AI engine, such as students' academic performance, learning habits and personal information. It is imperative that educational establishments put in place robust privacy policies and security protocols to protect student and teacher data in order to guarantee their confidentialty and also prevent fraudulent use of this data. 
Be sure to check the terms and conditions of the AIs you use, as well as their data processing policies

disadvantages artificiel intelligence in education

Biased automatic assessments

AI systems used to assess students can have inherent biases. Algorithms can be influenced by biased training data, leading to unfair assessment. It is essential that teachers use their professional judgment to complement automated AI assessment and to ensure that assessment decisions take into account all aspects of student performance, including non-quantifiable elements.

Unequal access to text-generating AI

The introduction of AI into education can accentuate the digital disparity between institutions and students. Not all learners have equal access to the technologies needed to reap the full benefits of AI. Educational institutions need to ensure that resources and infrastructure are made available equitably to avoid widening gaps between students.

challenges ai education examples

3 Concrete Examples of AI Challenges in Education
 

Academic integrity at risk

A university student, short on time, uses ChatGPT to generate an entire thesis. While the paper appears well-written, the student hasn’t engaged with the topic or developed their own analytical skills, leading to a superficial understanding of the subject.
 

Data privacy concerns

If AI tools start integrating native advertisements, sensitive data could be exploited. For instance, a student asking an AI about mental health advice might later receive targeted ads for medication, raising ethical concerns about data usage.

 

Loss of critical thinking

In a high school philosophy class, a student relies entirely on AI to interpret a complex text. Instead of forming their own arguments, they copy AI-generated insights, gradually losing their ability to think independently and engage in deep reflection.

 

Focus on the Use of AI in Education

 

Why it is essential to regulate the use of AI in higher education?

Regulating AI in higher education is crucial to balancing theoretical mastery with critical thinking.

  • In medicine for instance, students must not only grasp complex concepts but also develop analytical skills. Relying on AI for a thesis risks weakening their ability to critique research. Can you see yourself being operated on by a surgeon who generated his thesis with chatGPT?
  • In architecture, future professionals need creativity, solid basic skills and problem-solving skills to design impactful projects. you don't want to entrust the construction of your house to an architect who has generated his thesis and designs using generative AI

To uphold academic integrity and high standards, it is essential to identify AI usage, ensuring authenticity, originality, and the proper validation of student competencies. Teachers and students alike can use an AI detector like Compilatio Magister+ or Compilatio Studium, to identify content potentially generated by ChatGPT, Gemini or others AIs.

 

AI in Higher Education: Current Use

AI is already shaping higher education by assisting with research, automating administrative tasks, and offering personalized learning experiences. Students use AI tools for writing support, data analysis, and language translation, while educators leverage them for grading and course recommendations.

 

AI in Higher Education: Future Applications

In the future, AI could provide even more advanced tutoring systems, predictive analytics for student success, and immersive learning through virtual reality. It may also aid in skill-based assessments and adaptive curricula, ensuring education becomes more personalized and efficient.


 

Despite advances in AI, human interaction remains irreplaceable in teaching. Teachers play a crucial role as guides, facilitators and role models for learners. However, by combining the benefits of AI with human expertise and interaction, we can create a more effective and personalized educational environment. 

It is therefore crucial to strike a harmonious balance between the use of AI and human interaction in teaching

 


 

Sources for further information 


 

Information: this informative article, which does not require any personal reflection, was written in part with the help of ChatGPT. We have reworked the automatically-generated content (corrected repetitions, corrected turns of phrase, added clarifications, added quotations, checked the veracity of the information, etc.).