ChatGPT for good? On opportunities and challenges of large language models for education

Large language models represent a significant advancement in the field of AI. The underlying technology is key to further innovations and, despite critical views and even bans within communities and regions, large language models are here to stay. This commentary presents the potential benefits and challenges of educational appli-cations of large language models, from student and teacher perspectives. We briefly discuss the current state of large language models and their applications. We then highlight how these models can be used to create educational content, improve student engagement and interaction, and personalize learning experiences. With regard to challenges, we argue that large language models in education require teachers and learners to develop sets of competencies and literacies necessary to both understand the technology as well as their limitations and unexpected brittleness of such systems. In addition, a clear strategy within educational systems and a clear pedagogical approach with a strong focus on critical thinking and strategies for fact checking are required to integrate and take full advantage of large language models in learning settings and teaching curricula. Other challenges such as the potential bias in the output, the need for continuous human oversight, and the potential for misuse are not unique to the application of AI in education. But we believe that, if handled sensibly, these challenges can offer insights and opportunities in education scenarios to acquaint students early on with po-tential societal biases, criticalities, and risks of AI applications. We conclude with recommendations for how to address these challenges and ensure that such models are used in a responsible and ethical manner in education.

Automated summary

Large language models are a significant advancement in AI, and despite criticism and bans, they are here to stay. This commentary discusses the potential benefits and challenges of using these models in education, emphasizing the need for competencies, critical thinking, and strategies for fact checking. Teachers and learners must understand the technology and its limitations, and educational systems need clear strategies and pedagogical approaches to maximize the benefits. Challenges such as bias, human oversight, and potential misuse can provide insights and opportunities for early education on societal biases and risks of AI applications.