On Air One to Three Christy Dehaven | 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Does artificial intelligence have a place within the education sector?

Academic experts discuss the pros and cons of ChatGPT's capabilities

Artificial intelligence - otherwise known as AI - continues to advance at rapid speeds with systems like ChatGPT coming to the forefront, spanning four generations in less than half a decade.

But how is AI affecting the education sector when systems are so technically sophisticated that it's able to generate homework when asked.

ChatGPT is what's called a 'generative pre-trained transformer'.

It can answer questions, write realistic essays, understand complex mathematics and debug programming code to name but a few.

OpenAI is the company behind the bot, which was founded by business tycoon Elon Musk.

Manx Radio's Christian Jones went to University College Isle of Man to speak with Computer Science lecturer Dr Alastair Robertson, who specialises in Data Science, and Higher Education Manager Gail Corrin:

Manx Radio asked ChatGPT:

“Please write a brief essay about the evolution of Harry Potter's role over the course of the book series.”

The AI's response:

"Harry Potter, the protagonist of J.K. Rowling's famous book series, goes through a significant character development over the course of the series. Starting as an innocent and somewhat naive boy in the first book, Harry evolves into a mature and self-assured young man by the end of the series.

At the beginning of the series, Harry is a lonely orphan, living with his cruel and neglectful relatives, the Dursleys. He is unaware of his true identity as a wizard until he receives his letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Despite being thrust into a world he knows nothing about, Harry proves to be brave and resourceful as he faces numerous challenges throughout the series.

As the series progresses, Harry becomes more aware of the complex and dangerous world he inhabits. He faces increasingly difficult challenges, such as defeating the powerful wizard, Voldemort, and uncovering the mysteries surrounding his family's history. Harry becomes more confident in his abilities and develops strong leadership qualities, as he leads his friends in battles against Voldemort and his followers.

Throughout the series, Harry learns to value the importance of friendship and loyalty. He forms strong bonds with his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and their unwavering support helps him through many difficult times. Additionally, Harry's experiences teach him the importance of making difficult decisions and accepting the consequences of his actions.

In the final book, Harry finally confronts Voldemort and ultimately defeats him, bringing an end to the war that has ravaged the wizarding world. Harry's growth as a character is evident in this moment, as he shows maturity, wisdom, and bravery beyond his years. He also learns the importance of sacrifice, as he willingly sacrifices his own life to protect his loved ones and defeat Voldemort.

In conclusion, Harry Potter's role evolves significantly throughout the book series. From a naive and uncertain boy to a brave and courageous young man, Harry's journey is one of growth, development, and ultimately triumph. His experiences teach valuable lessons about the importance of friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice, and he remains an iconic character in the world of literature."

We ran this completed essay through various plagiarism checkers including the industry standard checker 'Turnitin', which is used at academic and educational institutes across the United Kingdom which gave these results:

  • 98% unique, 2% plagiarised
  • 97% unique, 3% plagiarised
  • 100% unique, 0% plagiarised

Manx Radio questioned ChatGPT directly if it thinks artificial intelligence has a place in education or should be banned entirely:

"Rather than an outright ban or embrace of AI, it's important to carefully evaluate its use on a case-by-case basis and ensure that it is being used in a way that benefits students and upholds ethical standards. Ultimately, AI should be used as a tool to enhance the learning experience, not replace it."

 

Listen to a NEWSCAST episode about AI by clicking HERE.

More from Isle of Man News