Here’s what educators can do as artificial intelligence evolves.

Have you ever heard anyone joke about robots taking over the world? Those quips were based on a reality that felt impossibly far ahead, but now there’s a certain anxiety behind them. Artificial intelligence, or AI, is very real and pretty powerful. And while tools like ChatGPT have captured headlines, we interact with AI every day we’re online.

So what is it, exactly? It comes in several forms, from simple automation to social intelligence. Algorithms control what ads we see online, the movement of self-driving cars, and those bots that pop up to answer questions when we’re shopping online. Programs like Sora can create entire videos from a text prompt. And while no AI has achieved true, Westworld-style self-awareness yet, there are plenty of examples of “companion” AI chatbots meant to stand in as friends. There are even AI-generated personas and social media stars!

We also see AI at work in schools. Some edtech uses adaptive learning, which is a form of AI, and facial recognition also qualifies. But generative AI—like writing tools that can create whole essays based on a simple prompt (like ChatGPT and Gemini)—is a relatively new frontier, especially in classrooms. While predictive text is something we encounter in Google Docs or text messaging, it’s pretty novel to have a program deliver an entire piece of writing based on simple questions or requests. And while the sophistication of its abilities are often questionable, it’s still a concern for many educators….

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