UNESCO takes stand: Issues guidelines for regulating GenAI use in education

Microsoft-backed OpenAI launched ChatGPT, a GenAI chatbot, and it's now the world's fastest-growing app. It's caused rivals like Google's Bard to follow suit.

Students love it too, as it can create anything from essays to math equations with just a few lines of code. But it's not easy to keep up with the speed of technological change and the advances in machine learning models.

"We're having trouble keeping up with the pace of change in these models and the speed of change in the education system, too," Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, told Reuters.

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has also felt the need for AI curricula to be approved by the government in schools, technical and vocational education, and training.

UNESCO has published its first guidance on use of Generative AI (GenAI) for education, urging governmental agencies to regulate the use of the technology, including protection of data privacy and putting an age limit for users - https://t.co/mimt0WZNHV

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Preventing deprivation of essential skills

UNESCO has called for GenAI providers to be held accountable for upholding core values and legal purposes, intellectual property rights, and ethical practices, as well as preventing the dissemination of false information and hate speech.

Furthermore, UNESCO requested that GenAI be prevented in cases where it would impede the development of cognitive and social skills by eliminating the ability to observe the world around us, experiment, converse with other people, and use independent logical reasoning.

This includes the need for:

Observations of the real world Empirical practices like experiments Engaging in discussions with other humans Fostering independent logical reasoning

Protection of educators & researchers

UNESCO has highlighted the differences in the regulation of Artificial Intelligence around the world. China is the only country to have implemented GenAI regulations, while the European Union has yet to approve its AI Act.

Other countries are lagging behind in the development of their own AI laws, demonstrating the need for worldwide harmonisation. The agency has also highlighted the importance of protecting the rights of educators and researchers when incorporating GenAI into educational systems, as this safeguards their expertise and ensures that their efforts are not overlooked. These considerations highlight the ever-changing nature of AI regulation as well as the necessity of preserving the quality of educational practices related to GenAI.

Government-sanctioned AI curricula

UNESCO’s 64-page report outlined a number of recommendations for the development of government-approved AI curricula for schools, technical and vocational education, and training.

“GenAI providers should ensure that core values and legal purposes are respected, that intellectual property is protected, and that ethical practices are upheld,” UNESCO said, adding that disinformation and hate speech should be avoided.

The agency, based in Paris, also wanted to make sure that teachers and researchers' rights and the value of what they were doing were protected when using GenAI.