UNESCO Releases Guidelines for Responsible Use of Generative AI in Education

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recently issued its inaugural guidelines on the use of generative artificial intelligence in education. These guidelines urge government agencies to regulate the use of this technology, including safeguarding data privacy and setting age restrictions for users.

Generative artificial intelligence, popularized by chatbot ChatGPT, has become the fastest-growing global application since its launch by OpenAI in November of the previous year. Its emergence has prompted competitors such as Google and Microsoft to release similar products.

Generative chatbots have gained immense popularity among students because, with just a few prompts, they can generate anything from essays to mathematical calculations. However, this convenience has raised concerns in the education sector, particularly regarding plagiarism and cheating.

Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, acknowledges that generative artificial intelligence presents a significant opportunity for human development, but it also carries the potential for harm and bias. She adds, "Without public participation, the necessary safeguards and regulations from governments, it cannot be integrated into education."

Stefania Giannini, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Education, states, "We are working to ensure that the pace of transformation in the education system aligns with technological advancements and the progress of these machine learning models." Giannini points out, "In many cases, governments and schools are adopting a completely unfamiliar technology, and even top technology experts may not claim to fully understand it."

Key Recommendations

In a comprehensive 64-page report, UNESCO emphasizes the need for government approval of artificial intelligence curricula, including the integration of relevant courses into school education, vocational and technical education, and training programs.

UNESCO also states that "providers of generative artificial intelligence should be responsible for ensuring compliance with core values and legitimate purposes, respecting intellectual property, adhering to ethical practices, and preventing the spread of false information and hate speech."

Furthermore, the organization calls for a certain degree of limitation on the use of generative artificial intelligence. This is because, in many cases, cognitive and social skills are developed through practical experiences, independent logical reasoning, and observations of the real world. Generative AI has the potential to deprive individuals of opportunities to develop these skills.

Additionally, the guidelines highlight that ChatGPT currently has a relatively low age threshold, set at 13 years old. UNESCO advocates for legislation to raise the age restriction to 16 years old to ensure a safer and more appropriate user base for such technology in an educational context.

In summary, UNESCO's guidelines serve as an important step toward ensuring the responsible and effective integration of generative artificial intelligence into education systems while addressing ethical, pedagogical, and societal concerns. It emphasizes the need for regulation, oversight, and a thoughtful approach to harnessing the potential of AI in education.