🎊 AI x Education 2024 Year in Review

Explore student perspectives on AI in education two years after ChatGPT's release and how AI is making waves on a global scale

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Dec 27, 2024

Welcome to the final edition of our AI x Education Newsletter for 2024! Thank you so much for being a part of this journey as we've explored AI in education through the lens of student perspectives. This year has been nothing short of groundbreaking, with the launch of OpenAI’s GPT-4o and o-series models, bringing unprecedented accuracy and speed, along with the rise of high-quality video generation tools and so many other advancements. Alongside these innovations, we've seen an increasing number of people embracing AI, but also the rise of important discussions around regulations and ethics. We’ve seen this play out in K-12 schools and higher education institutions, and it will be interesting to see how they continue to evolve in the year ahead.

This year, we had readers from all 50 states and 116 countries, showcasing the global impact of AI and its growing influence on students and educators around the world!

Here is an overview of today’s newsletter:

The latest updates on popular AI tools
Gen Z student perspectives on the role of AI in education and the workforce
A meta-analysis of experimental studies on the impact of ChatGPT on learning
Arizona charter school introduces AI-only online classes

🚀 Practical AI Usage and Policies

👀 New Releases and Updates

Perplexity: Custom Web Sources
If you're conducting research and want to gather information from specific sources or files, Perplexity's new custom web sources feature allows you to specify which websites you want it to search through within a Perplexity Space. To learn more about Perplexity Space, refer to our previous newsletter!
1-800-ChatGPT: Calling and Messaging ChatGPT with your phone
Now, you can connect with ChatGPT by phone or WhatsApp at 1-800-ChatGPT. Got a quick question? Just give ChatGPT a call for an instant answer.
Apple Intelligence: Create AI-generated images and drafts texts using ChatGPT on your iPhone
If you turn on the ChatGPT extension on your Apple Device with Apple Intelligence, you now have the ability to generate text messages and custom DALL·E images directly within texts, emails, notes, and more. Check out this LinkedIn tutorial by Nicole Leffer to see how it works.

🎙️ Perspectives on AI

100 Student Voices on AI and Education (World Bank)
This report explores students' perceptions, uses, and concerns about AI, based on focus group discussions in 10 countries. While students frequently use AI tools for tasks like writing, coding, and creative projects, there are still some regions where students face challenges with high internet costs and low connectivity affecting their access to AI. Interestingly, across institutions, students in STEM fields have been early adopters of this technology, which has also signaled the need for comprehensive AI education across all disciplines.
Source: Table 1 from 100 Student Voices on AI and Education Report by World Bank // https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099115410312428266/pdf/IDU10a94e2cb1d123145c51875e13217bc44276f.pdf
Report: How can we upskill Gen Z as fast as we train AI? (EY and TeachAI with support from Microsoft)
This report by EY and TeachAI offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities AI presents for Gen Z. It draws on survey data from 5,218 Gen Z respondents across 15 countries in five regions, collected in June 2024. Here are some of the key takeaways quoted from the report:
- “The two most common sources Gen Z turns to for AI information are social media (55%) and news articles/media (35%). Unlike these self-directed sources of education, educators and colleagues/employers were much lower in comparison, at 14% and 12%, respectively.” (Page 5)
- “Gen Z’s trust in AI varies by region. Those in the Middle East, Africa and India have a higher trust in AI, whereas North American respondents have the most distrust.” (Page 6)
  Source: Figure 2 from How can we upskill Gen Z as fast as we train AI? Report by EY and TeachAI with support from Microsoft // https://www.ey.com/content/dam/ey-unified-site/ey-com/en-gl/about-us/corporate-responsibility/documents/ey-gl-gen-z-report-12-24.pdf
- “That perception is coming from conflicting messages from educational institutions around Generative AI as a tool to “cheat on assignments” versus Gen AI as a tool to use in their education but not rely on … How do educators help prepare students for the kind of critical pivoting that Gen AI tools of the future are going to ask of them? I think this is an incredibly powerful way to prepare the workforce of the future. And this survey shows that’s not happening. Yet.” - Gina Neff Executive Director, Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy at the University of Cambridge and Professor of Responsible AI, Queen Mary University London (Page 15)
- Read the full report to check out additional stats and valuable insights from experts!

📖 The Latest Reads

AI literacy course prepares ASU students to set cultural norms for new technology (ASU News)
In this interview with Lance Gharavi, professor in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre at ASU, Professor Gharavi shares about a course that he has been teaching this past semester called, “AI Literacy in Design and the Arts” that covers the benefits, challenges and ethics surrounding AI.
15 Times to use AI and 5 Not to (Ethan Mollick’s Substack - One Useful Thing)
LLMs are powerful tools, but we shouldn’t be quick to rely on them for everything. Check out this Substack article by Ethan Mollick, which highlights when it’s appropriate to leverage AI and when it’s better to hold back.
One Useful Thing
15 Times to use AI, and 5 Not to
There are several types of work where AI can be particularly useful, given the current capabilities and limitations of LLMs. Though this list is based in science, it draws even more from experience. Like any form of wisdom, using AI well requires holding opposing ideas in mind: it can be transformative yet must be approached with skepticism, powerful ye…
Read more
2 months ago · 664 likes · 43 comments · Ethan Mollick

📝 Additional Helpful Resources

Accelerate Edtech Impact Summit 2024 Videos (Stanford Accelerator for Learning)
This year’s Accelerate Edtech Impact Summit hosted by the Stanford Accelerator for Learning brought together thought leaders from across the field under the theme “New Horizons for Efficacy and Impact” to collaboratively shape a future of learning that is effective, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all learners. If you were unable to attend, recordings of the panel discussions are available on their website to watch.
The Transformative Potential of AI: 6 Big Questions for Schools (EdWeek)
EdWeek recently released a special report covering six big questions for schools as they navigate AI in education. The report explores areas such as how AI will transform standardized testing, address deepfakes and cyberbullying, impact special education, and more.

📣 Student Voices and Use Cases

Over the past year, we interviewed more than a dozen students from around the world to gain insights into their perspectives on AI in education. Here are some of the common themes and key takeaways from these interviews during 2024:

⭐️ Use of AI as a Learning Tool

AI is widely utilized by students to supplement learning, enhance understanding, and provide personalized educational experiences.

Rohan Gudipaty, a Computer Science and Mathematics student, used the Erin bot integrated with Discord to brainstorm ideas and improve essay quality while still crafting original content
Sami Melhem, a Texas A&M student, used AI for "priming" weeks ahead of his hardware class, allowing him to master material before it was formally taught
Emerald, a Northwestern University student, used AI to improve her Chinese language skills by receiving grammar corrections and explanations

⭐️ Challenges of AI in Education

There is widespread concern among both students and educators about the potential misuse of AI for academic dishonesty and the limitations of current AI models, such as their tendency to produce hallucinations.

Ivy Liu, an MIT graduate, highlighted students relying on AI to complete assignments without genuine understanding, which was evident during "check-offs" in her role as a lab assistant
Konstantin Loktev, a student at BSUIR, warned about potential AI hallucinations negatively affecting learning outcomes if not meticulously tested

⭐️ Equity and Accessibility Concerns

While AI can democratize learning, inequitable access to technology may widen existing educational gaps.

Anjali Nambiar, a policy consultant, expressed concerns about how schools lacking basic infrastructure might be left behind in adopting AI

⭐️ Transforming Teaching and Assessment

Students believe that AI tools can support educators by automating administrative tasks, developing personalized learning plans, and introducing innovative methods of assessment.

Amy Jain, a Berkeley student, discussed how Gradescope can be used for automating grading, enabling teachers to focus on engagement
Sami Melhem advocated for AI-assisted "skills assessments" that evaluate practical application over theoretical knowledge

⭐️ Importance of AI Literacy

Students and teachers need proper training to maximize the benefits of AI while avoiding misuse.

Alondra Munoz Sandoval, a Vanderbilt University student, appreciated a professor who taught students how to effectively prompt AI, demystifying the tool's potential
Mashiko Lortkipanidze, a Minerva University student, emphasized the importance of transparency in AI use, suggesting detailed outlines of where and how AI was utilized in assignments

⭐️ Future Potential of AI in Education

AI has the potential to provide hyper-personalized learning, foster creativity, and bridge gaps in traditional education models.

Jackson Frazier, an Embry-Riddle student, used AI to simplify lecture content and generate tailored practice problems
Anjali Nambiar expressed optimism about tools like Khanmigo democratizing access to high-quality education

📝 Latest Research in AI + Education

Computers & Education Journal

Does ChatGPT enhance student learning? A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies ↗️

This systematic review and meta-analysis dive into the impact of ChatGPT on student learning, drawing from 69 experimental studies conducted between 2022 and 2024. The results reveal that ChatGPT, primarily used in university-level language education, boosts academic performance, enhances motivation, and fosters higher-order thinking, while reducing mental effort for students. Interestingly, it doesn’t seem to have a significant effect on self-efficacy.

While these findings are promising, the analysis also highlights some challenges, such as small sample sizes and potential biases in post-intervention assessments, which suggest we should interpret the results with care. To address these gaps, the study recommends better assessment methods, exploring the long-term impacts of ChatGPT, and applying power analysis for stronger research designs.

Student Opinion by Aditya Syam:

It is undoubtedly true that using tools like ChatGPT reduces the load on a range of otherwise tedious college assignments. Using these tools can help students eliminate repetitive or non-educational tasks, for instance, Latex formatting or ordered references for an academic paper. This, in turn, would reduce the mental effort required by students to perform the larger tasks that involve these tedious processes. The study, however, brings up the missing aspect of long-term impact evaluation, which is perhaps vital for a study like this. In the short term, the benefits would certainly outweigh the drawbacks, especially when viewed from a student’s point of view. In the long term, on the other hand, it increases dependence on these tools. For example, a CS student who has become incredibly used to ChatGPT auto-generating Python code might end up in a scenario where he or she is unable to write basic Python syntax because they are used to generating syntax automatically.

Deng R., Jiang M., Yu X., Lu Y. & Liu S., Does ChatGPT enhance student
learning? A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies, Computers & Education, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2024.105224.

Kent State University

Analyzing the Impact of AI Tools on Student Study Habits and Academic Performance ↗️

This study explores how AI tools are shaping students' academic performance, study habits, and time management through a combination of surveys and interviews with university students. The findings reveal that AI tools are helping students study more efficiently, cut down on study hours, and boost their GPAs while keeping them motivated and engaged. Students reported feeling comfortable using AI and found features like adaptive learning paths and personalized feedback to be valuable.

However, challenges like over-reliance on AI, privacy concerns, and difficulties integrating these tools with traditional teaching approaches remain important considerations. The study highlights the exciting potential of AI as a powerful supplement to education but also emphasizes the importance of implementing it in a way that is balanced, ethical, and transparent.

Ward, B., Bhati, D., Neha, F., & Guercio, A. (2024). Analyzing the impact of AI tools on student study habits and academic performance (arXiv:2412.02166). arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.02166

📰 In the News

UCLA Newsroom

Comparative lit class will be first in Humanities Division to use UCLA-developed AI system ↗️

Key takeaways:

AI-Enhanced Course Materials: Zrinka Stahuljak’s winter 2025 comparative literature course will be the first in UCLA Humanities to use the Kudu AI platform, featuring AI-generated textbooks, assignments, and teaching assistant resources.
Teaching Focus Shift: The AI system allows Stahuljak to concentrate on critical thinking and primary source analysis during lectures, while TAs can focus more on assisting students with writing assignments.
Customizable and Accessible: The Kudu-generated digital textbook is available for $25, can be printed, and supports audio readers for accessibility. It can also be updated during the course based on student needs.
Closed-Loop AI System: Kudu only draws from professor-approved course materials, preventing misuse of generative AI for assignments and ensuring focused support for student queries.
Broader Impact at UCLA: Originally developed for STEM, Kudu’s adoption in humanities and social sciences, starting with Stahuljak's and other courses, highlights its versatility and potential for enhancing education across disciplines.

Vice News / ABC15 Arizona

This Grade School Offers AI-Only Classes, No Teachers Involved ↗️