The Rise of AI in Education
In the near future, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize education by personalizing learning materials and capturing the attention of young learners. One such student embracing this technology is Alexis, a 24-year-old master’s student in finance at IE Business School in Madrid.
Alexis, who prefers not to disclose his last name, relies heavily on ChatGPT, an AI model developed by OpenAI. Instead of emailing professors for course details, he utilizes ChatGPT’s study mode, launched in July, to understand and review his curriculum.
AI Tools for Students
ChatGPT’s study mode aims to guide students in finding solutions independently rather than providing ready-made answers. Similarly, Google’s Gemini offers a comparable feature, which Jill-Jênn Vie from the French National Research Institute for Digital Sciences and Technologies (INRIA) describes as “a marketing ploy.”
“It’s like conversing with ChatGPT conventionally, but with an additional instruction not to provide immediate answers,” Vie explains.
Institutional Encouragement and Data Collection
Educational institutions are actively promoting AI usage among students, emphasizing its importance in future careers, especially in finance. In France, Google’s Gemini offered a year of free subscription to Google AI Pro (priced at nearly 22 euros per month) to students.
Universities also received collective subscriptions for staff and students. Antonio Casilli, a professor at the Institut Polytechnique de Paris and digital platforms expert, notes that this market is highly lucrative, particularly in Europe. Companies have successfully entered and gradually captured this market.
Casilli believes there are two primary objectives: making young users dependent on AI and initiating early data collection, a process that will continue for years.
OpenAI asserts on its website that no university account data is used to train their models. However, Casilli argues that the tool can still “determine cultural preferences, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and social relationships” among users.
Dependence and Benefits
Despite not sharing personal information in his university ChatGPT account, Alexis acknowledges a form of dependence on the tool. “Without it, studying would take me much longer,” he admits.
An Ifop/Talan survey from April 2023 revealed that 85% of French youth aged 18-24 use generative AI daily, up from 68% in 2024.
Adeline André, a French pedagogical inspector and coordinator of an AI and education working group, notes that students are motivated but may struggle independently at home. AI can help them overcome these obstacles.
Future Personalized Learning
In the near future, AI could further personalize educational content and engage young learners. Jill-Jênn Vie suggests a tailored textbook example: “If a student enjoys basketball, their math exercises could adapt accordingly.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Why are AI giants targeting students? A: To foster early dependence on AI and collect valuable user data for model training.
- Q: How does ChatGPT’s study mode assist students? A: It guides students in finding solutions independently rather than providing ready-made answers.
- Q: What are the benefits of using AI in education? A: AI can help students overcome learning obstacles and personalize educational content.
