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The UK government has announced a "first of its kind" $5.2 million project to strengthen artificial intelligence tools that help teachers plan lessons and grade homework.
Under the project, government documents such as curriculum guidelines, lesson plans and student assessments will be provided to artificial intelligence companies to train their technology to "accurately generate high-quality content, such as tailored, creative lesson plans and workbooks."
The AI's generative tools will help teachers assess work and create learning materials, the science and education ministries said in a press release.
"Today's world-leading announcement marks a huge step forward for AI in the classroom," said Early Education Minister Stephen Morgan, part of the recently elected Labour government.
Science minister Peter Kyle said the project aimed to "ease administrative burdens" and would "change the way we see and use public sector data".
The project claims to have a "first-of-its-kind approach to processing government data for artificial intelligence purposes".
Public attitudes towards AI in education show that while respondents agree that AI can help teachers, there are concerns about over-reliance on the technology.
According to the survey, parents and students "worry about the loss of key social and technical skills and reduced time interacting with people, which will lead to unintended adverse outcomes."
In recent years, UK schools have been rocked by teachers' strikes over pay cuts in real terms, while struggling to retain sufficient numbers of teachers. | BGNES
