The use of AI in education leads to various ethical challenges. Ethics in AI examines the moral implications and responsibilities of developing, deploying, and using artificial intelligence systems. This page provides an overview of the main ethical challenges of the use of AI in education and also shows recommendations for action on how to address these challenges.
Risk of bias
Artificial intelligence can be trained with data that is biased, which can lead to biased, erroneous, and or unfair results. It is necessary for educational intuitions and educators to take steps to identify these problems in the system. There also needs to be a person responsible for the continuous monitoring of the results presented by the AI.
Lack of transparency
AI systems can be complex and difficult to understand, which can make it difficult for teachers and students to understand how decisions are being made. Furthermore, with some tools the decision is inherently opaque, as with deep learning or Convolutional Neural Network. Consequently, it's harder to trust the data and opinions presented by artificial intelligence.
Privacy and Data concerns
AI collects a large amount of data from teachers and lecturers, which can lead to privacy concerns. Users of AI tools must actively consent to this data collection, but this consent is more or less forced when educational institutions require the use of AI tools. In this case, educators as well as students and parents have no choice but to agree.
Over-dependence on technology
If artificial intelligence systems are used inappropriately, there can be a risk that teachers and students become over-dependent on these technological tools, which can hinder teaching and learning, losing important skills and knowledge.
Job Losses
The use of AI potentially threatens the jobs of teachers and others working in education. Therefore, there could be job losses as the tools save costs in the long run.