‘Address challenges in AI, technology in education’

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has urged education policymakers and experts to address the challenges and “uncertainties” in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies in digital education.

Speaking before government leaders and education stakeholders at the 2023 Global Education and Innovation Summit (GEIS) in Seoul, South Korea last Thursday, Duterte said the advent of AI would create a “paradigm shift” in education, thus it must be harnessed with the aim of improving the students’ access to quality education.

“We now live in an era where undeniably, technology must be harnessed to improve access, quality and equality in education. And the advent of artificial intelligence will certainly create another paradigm shift in education. While this possibility will present newer and greater opportunities, it will also present many uncertainties in our vision of digital education,” she added.

At present, the use of AI in education still evokes shame or fear because it is still relatively unknown by the masses, according to the Vice President.

“Last night, I was editing the keynote message for this morning. And I was telling my colleague, ‘Why are we editing this keynote? Shouldn’t we use AI to edit this keynote at this hour?’ And then my colleague said, ‘Sshh, someone might hear you,’” she recounted.

“It appeared to me that AI evokes shame, evokes fear – because of the unknown,” she said.

Duterte noted that with the rapid advancement of technology, learners are constantly flooded with information, thus digital education must focus on developing the students’ critical thinking ability.

“It is equally important to teach children how to differentiate truthful