Meet Khan Academy’s Chatbot Tutor
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the classroom is a topic that has sparked debates among educators and experts. While some are wary of its potential for facilitating cheating and generating inaccurate responses, Khan Academy is embracing the possibilities of AI to enhance education.
More than 8,000 teachers and students are set to test Khan Academy’s AI tutor, Khanmigo, in the upcoming school year. This AI-powered tool aims to provide individualized guidance to students and engage them through interactive features.
Khanmigo’s features include personalized support for solving math, science, and humanities problems, a debate tool covering topics like student debt cancellation and AI’s impact on the job market, and a writing tutor to assist students in crafting narratives. It also offers students the unique opportunity to converse with AI-powered historical figures and literary characters.
Kristen DiCerbo, Chief Learning Officer at Khan Academy, emphasized the challenges of providing individualized help to students when they encounter new concepts. She noted that Khanmigo seeks to address this issue by tailoring its guidance to students’ specific needs.
One of Khanmigo’s unique features is the ability for users to rate its responses in real-time, providing valuable feedback to improve its accuracy. DiCerbo acknowledged the potential benefits and risks of AI in education, emphasizing the importance of focusing on its positive aspects while being aware of potential pitfalls.
Khanmigo was developed in partnership with OpenAI’s GPT-4, the latest iteration of the large language model. It has been trained on Khan Academy’s learning content, ensuring that its responses align with educational objectives. Safeguards have also been implemented to maintain an encouraging tone and prevent giving students direct answers to their questions.
While some academic institutions have been hesitant to embrace AI due to concerns about misuse and its potential impact on student learning, Khan Academy is providing educators with resources to promote AI literacy among teachers. The AI learning course “AI 101 for Teachers” aims to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively incorporate AI into their teaching practices.
Khanmigo’s introduction comes at a crucial juncture in the discussion surrounding AI in education. As educators grapple with the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, Khan Academy’s approach emphasizes using AI to complement and enhance classroom learning experiences, ultimately helping students develop critical thinking skills while benefiting from technology’s capabilities.
