ChatGPT [Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer], a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence (AI), is generating a pointed debate in education and beyond. ChatGPT was developed by OpenAI, an AI research and deployment company, and launched in late 2022. The app is designed to sound conversational and generate written responses to typed prompts. The language model is based on a kind of machine learning that allows it to process information from a diverse range of texts, from online articles to spoken conversations. It can be used for a variety of natural language processing tasks, including
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ChatGPT [Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer], a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence (AI), is generating a pointed debate in education and beyond. ChatGPT was developed by OpenAI, an AI research and deployment company, and launched in late 2022. The app is designed to sound conversational and generate written responses to typed prompts. The language model is based on a kind of machine learning that allows it to process information from a diverse range of texts, from online articles to spoken conversations. It can be used for a variety of natural language processing tasks, including language translation, text creation, and summarization. Several concerns have been raised related to individual data privacy and security. OpenAI offers no procedures for individuals to check whether ChatGPT stores their personal information or a way to delete it (Gal, 2023). Another limitation is the literacy level needed to access content which tends to generate text at a level equivalent to that of a highly educated speaker. It is important to note, however, that educators can request for information to be generated in plain language, at a specific grade level, or even for English learners.
ChatGPT presents a unique opportunity for adult educators to explore AI as a mechanism for skill-building across multiple literacies. Research shows that information literacy, the skills and abilities to navigate and find information online that is accurate and verified (American Library Association, n.d.), is significantly associated with the ability to identify fake news (JonesJang et al., 2021). While banning AI technology for a time might mitigate the risks of spreading misinformation, an arguably more dire risk is the missed opportunity to introduce AI tools in an educational environment and facilitate critical conversations around their use and credibility. Rather than block access to AI technology, which may generate false and biased information, educators should use it to support adult learners in developing the literacy skills and digital resilience needed to find, interpret, and make meaning (World Education, 2022).
Edited excerpts from publication.
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