Bringing generative AI to the education front, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has issued a formal submission to the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training, offering an in-depth review of the application of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the country's education system.
Generative AI, when ethically deployed, had the potential to dramatically transform learning experiences and improve educational outcomes, said AHRC.
The benefits encompass a wide range of areas from personalised and interactive learning to data-driven insights and administrative efficiencies.
However, the AHRC emphasised that AI should serve as an enhancement to teaching rather than a replacement for the indispensable human interaction and cooperation integral to education.
This stance aligns with UNESCO's guidance that cautions against letting powerful AI technology undermine the role of teachers.
It underscores that well-equipped teachers, effective school management and appropriate teacher training remain the core solutions to the challenges posed by technology in classrooms.
Prepare for greater adoption of AI
In a statement published online, AHRC said: "Australian schools must not only prepare for greater adoption of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in how they teach - but also educate people on how to use that technology safely.
"The UN Committee on Economic, Society and Cultural Rights stated that the introduction to technology in learning "should be understood as a component of general education".
More recently, the special rapporteur on the right to education urged that "the understanding of the right to education should be broadened to include digital competencies and access to the Internet as a means of supporting the right to education, the right to information and cultural rights".
Potential human rights risks
The integration of AI in the education system does not come without potential human rights risks.
The AHRC identifies several key concerns including privacy, algorithmic bias and discrimination, digital equality, commercialisation of data and the risk of undermining educational integrity.
To mitigate these risks, it is crucial for users of the school system to be well-versed in the ethical use of AI and for the country to establish a national framework to support this.
The AHRC urges the House Standing Committee to take into consideration these human rights as they continue to adapt to the increasing use of AI in education.
The detailed submission, which includes 16 recommendations for the ethical use of AI in education, is available online for public review.