3. Why use AI applications in learning and teaching?

This chapter explains why it is unreasonable to assume that the emergence of AI does not concern you. The chapter separately outlines the possibilities of AI use for students and instructors, focusing on activities that can enhance learning and teaching. Additionally, it provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of AI in education to help you become an informed and thoughtful AI user. It is crucial to understand the principles of proper AI use and citation, which are introduced in the final section of this chapter.

Integrating AI into education complements traditional teaching methods and develops students’ future skills. However, it is essential to maintain a balance between technology use and personal interaction and guidance.

With the rapid development and widespread adoption of AI applications, much discussion has been about their impact on teaching and learning. While opinions on the usefulness of AI in education range from outright rejection to enthusiastic adoption, it is essential to recognise that students and faculty are already actively using AI in their studies. Therefore, the focus should be on developing skilled and responsible AI users. Instructors should consider integrating AI applications into their teaching to enhance traditional methods (e.g., determining the types of assignments given to students). AI can also simplify teaching while training students to use these applications effectively, fostering essential future skills.

Students must acquire foundational knowledge and learning strategies to utilise AI’s potential fully. However, it is crucial to understand that AI does not replace quality learning; personal interaction between instructors and students and among students must be preserved. Therefore, the learning process must be skilfully guided to help students critically analyse AI-generated content.

Why is the belief that AI does not concern me likely incorrect?

AI applications have become an integral part of our daily lives and education. However, responsible and critical AI use requires the guidance of instructors, who can help students understand that learning requires effort, and that technology serves as a supportive – not a substitutive – tool in the learning process.

The rapid rise of AI in recent years can create the feeling that it is impossible to keep up with its rapid development. New applications emerge faster than we can even test existing ones. To protect ourselves from the stress of this overwhelming pace, we might think that AI does not personally affect us. Nevertheless, AI-powered applications have already been subtly shaping our daily lives.

Discussions about AI applications, especially in education, gained significant momentum in late 2022. However, AI-based applications have been present in everyday life for much longer. Throughout the 21st century, AI has increasingly been applied across various fields. Banks and financial institutions use AI for fraud detection and risk analysis. GPS devices and smartphone navigation apps, such as Google Maps, utilise AI to provide real-time traffic updates and optimal routes. Online retailers (e.g., Amazon) and streaming platforms (e.g., Netflix) employ AI to recommend products and content based on user’s past behaviour. Early examples of AI also include virtual assistants in smartphones (e.g., Siri and Google Assistant), which help users perform searches, set reminders, and manage daily tasks. AI has proven helpful in automating repetitive, data-intensive, and sometimes even information-heavy tasks.

As a result, anyone using modern technology operates in an AI-integrated environment to some extent and has become accustomed to such applications. Therefore, it is unsurprising that the recent advancements in AI—making these applications suddenly (and often freely) available—have prompted discussions on their impact on education.

A first-year university student often lacks the subject knowledge needed to assess AI-generated content critically. They may also lack the mindset that learning requires effort—sometimes unavoidably so. This is where instructors play a key role in offering students a balanced, critical perspective on AI use by integrating time-tested knowledge, skills, and attitudes with the possibilities offered by new technology.