Study : UNESCO calls for regulations on the use of AI in schools
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has called on governments to regulate the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in education and research, including age limits for users.
The agency is also calling for safeguards in terms of data protection and user confidentiality.
Publicly available GenAI tools, such as ChatGPT, can produce automated text, images, video, music and software code. The platforms have evolved rapidly and are already used by hundreds of millions of people around the world, including many students.
However, very few countries have policies in place to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI tools.
« Wrongs and prejudices »
« Generative AI can be a tremendous opportunity for human development, but it can also cause harm and prejudice, » said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO , in a press release.
« It cannot be integrated into education without public commitment and the necessary guarantees and regulations from governments. This UNESCO guide will help policy-makers and teachers to make the most of the potential of AI for the benefit of learners.
Key steps
The UNESCO guidelines, the first attempt to create a global standard, suggest immediate steps that can be taken to ensure a human-centred vision for the use of new technologies.
These include making it compulsory to protect the confidentiality of data and considering an age limit of 13 for their use in the classroom. It also describes the requirements imposed on GenAI providers for ethical and effective use.
The guidelines highlight the need for educational institutions to validate AI systems for students.
Digital Learning Week
These guidelines were published during the first ever Digital Learning Week, a flagship event organised by UNESCO.
Over 1,000 participants discussed public digital learning platforms and GenAI and how they can be used to enhance and enrich learning.
The event also highlighted other important guidance produced by UNESCO in the field of education, including information and communication technologies (ICT) in education policy, education and blockchains, and an evaluation of government-approved K-12 AI curricula.
