An artificial intelligence (AI) expert says that while tools such as ChatGPT have a place in marking students’ work, they cannot replace human teachers. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and newer GPT-4 model can create large amounts of text from simple prompts, but educators believe that teachers’ value lies in mentoring students and inspiring them on their educational journey. AI can help speed up the process of assessing summative work, but it is not yet equipped to understand writing by children or young people. Algorithms have been used for years to mark multiple-choice test questions, but the formative element of teaching needs human interaction. The Ministry of Education has warned against using ChatGPT to mark students’ work for several reasons, including the risk of bias and errors that could perpetuate existing inequities.
OpenAI is a company that specializes in artificial intelligence research. Its GPT-3 and newer GPT-4 models can create text from simple prompts and are subject to ongoing development and improvement.
Simon McCallum is a computer scientist and member of Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Engineering. He believes that AI has a place in automating routine tasks such as grading, but the value of teaching lies in inspiration and mentoring.
