How to use AI as a student

If you have been wondering whether or not to start using AI tools for school work and studying, getting to know more about AI can be helpful, especially if you have a lot of questions right now.

After you decide, maybe you’d like to know how to use those tools properly and make the most of them.

So, to start, let’s talk about AI.

Many feel intimidated by the idea of artificial intelligence because of how futuristic and mysterious it can appear to be. We see headlines left and right talking about it, but what exactly is it?

It is intelligence shown by machine. It makes it so that the machine can learn from its own experience, much like humans do.

The goal is to get them to “think” like humans and therefore be able to complete tasks that only people could do.

You can probably already imagine how that could make life easier. Getting the robots to do the boring stuff for humans sounds great, but what about the potential dangers or downsides?

For now, we (probably) do not have to worry about things you may have seen in movies like Ex Machina or The Terminator. But there are certainly some concerns to keep in mind.

One of the biggest ones is privacy. Machine learning is essential for this kind of technology to keep evolving, and that involves gathering and analyzing heaps of information, including data from individuals.

Another concern is unemployment as a direct result of people being replaced by advanced AI (including teachers), but more on that later.

There isn’t much regulation on AI at this point. People are increasingly willing to put a foot down and demand that guardrails are created and enforced. It is a matter of how this new technology is used and how we can find ways to regulate it.

Technology can bring benefits to both teachers and students alike. Let’s see what services are being provided, starting with the teacher's side.

As mentioned before, there is the fear that artificially intelligent tutors could replace teachers. However, taking those jobs is not and should never be the goal of this new technology.

With the help of certain software, teachers can now automate repetitive tasks that used to consume a lot of their time, to focus more on teaching their students and interacting with them.

AI can perform automatic grading, and collect data that will help assess each student's challenges and how to handle them, but it can’t give the emotional support and care a real-life teacher can. It is here to help, not replace.

As for the learners, a day in the classroom can go from stale to fun and engaging with gamified lessons or VR. Not only that, but they can have a personal AI tutor that will help with almost anything related to school.

Since it is accessible through tablets and computers, students can learn anywhere at any time, as long as they’re connected to the internet or downloaded the material.

All of that opens a new possibility for students to learn at their own pace, get better support, and have interesting lessons that will teach them the essential information and skills they need to develop during school years.

Now that you know what AI is and what it can do to improve education, what can you do to make the most out of it?

First, understand that this relatively new tech has its limitations. It doesn’t work flawlessly and it can let you down when you need it most. Apps we use every day sometimes go down or have bugs and there isn’t much we can do about it other than wait for the issue to get fixed. We must, then, find a balance and try not to rely too heavily on them.

Another important aspect is picking the right tools. There isn’t a perfect one that will provide everything and work amazingly all the time, but some are more reliable than others and have better features. Always check reviews and ratings to know if the app is legit.

However, even if it is, remember to never share your private information. Your data may be collected and sold, which is something you want to avoid. This applies to everything you do online.

As long as you keep that in mind, you can have a wonderful time using AI tools in your day-to-day life as a student! And speaking of good tools, here is a recommendation I would like to share.

Khanmigo is an AI-powered personal tutor and teaching assistant from the nonprofit educational organization Khan Academy, which you may have already heard of before.

The tool was launched last year and has since then become free for all K-12 teachers in the U.S. after a partnership with Microsoft. It costs $4/month for students, but that may change in the future, as their goal is to make it accessible to as many people as possible.

Teachers can use it to complete certain tasks - like lesson planning, creating quiz questions, student grouping, etc - much more quickly.

It is designed to give students a personalized learning experience, with a virtual tutor that will provide gentle guidance towards the correct answer, like a human tutor would - not just hand it straight away.

If you feel compelled to give an AI tool a shot, whichever it is, go for it! Many of them are free or have free trials, so you have nothing to lose.

They can be a tremendous help while making studying more exciting than ever. Pick one that suits your needs, and have fun exploring.

Cover photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash.