Out of the Laboratory and Into the Classroom: The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Education

Abstract

Like previous educational technologies, artificial intelligence in education (AIEd) threatens to disrupt the status quo, with proponents highlighting the potential for efficiency and democratization, and skeptics warning of industrialization and alienation. However, unlike frequently discussed applications of AI in autonomous vehicles, military, and healthcare, AI’s impacts on education policy and practice have not yet captured the public’s attention. This paper evaluates the status of AIEd, with a focus on intelligent tutoring systems and anthropomorphized educational agents. It discusses capacities of AIEd, including teacher simulation and fostering socio-emotional engagement, and contrasts sociotechnical possibilities and risks through two idealized futures. It also considers peer review as a gatekeeping strategy for responsible AIEd research and implementation.