LETTER | Artificial intelligence (AI) has been gradually adopted by educational institutions in recent years to improve administrative, teaching and learning processes.
Higher education is at the forefront of this technological evolution, as AI has become a transformative force with the potential to revolutionize various aspects of society.
There is promising potential for integrating AI into higher education, including more creative research capabilities, streamlined administrative processes, and individualized learning experiences.
On the other hand, even as education is experiencing a digital revolution, it also raises moral questions, data privacy concerns, and the need for extensive regulations to control AI applications.
We’ve seen how generative AI can help write assignments, exam questions, grant proposals, and presentations. Additionally, a growing number of journals are already allowing the use of AI-created texts, indicating that academia is welcoming the idea of AI co-authoring publications.
It is therefore important for academics to use AI carefully. Even Malaysian academics anticipate a shift in their work through more efficient and cost-effective methods, although they only use generative AI to a limited extent.
However, as laws and consensus on AI ethics are still in their infancy, the limits of this assistance remain vague. For this reason, generative AI can help teachers as well as students in terms of assessment.
There appear to be many benefits to using generative AI in academic work, but knowing when to use it and when not to use it will be difficult.
The problem is that enthusiasm for generative AI as a productivity tool gets in the way of the work researchers should be working on. The success of generative AI in increasing productivity could lead to its indiscriminate application.
To ensure the ethical and equitable application of these technologies, regulations and standards controlling the use of AI in higher education are crucial.
The fundamental principles of these policies are confidentiality, security, fairness and transparency. To promote openness, institutions must commit to concisely justifying AI-based decision-making procedures.
Most importantly, strong data privacy safeguards must also be in place to protect sensitive information and ensure compliance with applicable privacy laws.
Educational institutions must ensure that AI applications meet accepted ethical standards. Continuous review, monitoring, evaluation, and modification of AI systems to comply with evolving ethical standards and emerging issues should also be emphasized in ethics.
AI training for academic staff is essential to creating a technologically advanced and flexible higher education environment. Depending on the institution, faculty members should have access to broad professional development programs tailored to a range of skill levels and disciplinary experiences. Educators can effectively integrate AI tools into their research and teaching by participating in workshops, seminars, and cooperative projects that provide hands-on experiences.
Additionally, continuing education should be made possible, such as access to online courses or specific training modules, to keep academic professionals informed in the rapidly evolving field of AI.
However, the most important thing is to emphasize the ethical issues related to AI applications.
In short, successfully integrating AI technology into higher education requires balancing its benefits and quality perspectives.
Considering these quality perspectives will help ensure that AI is used responsibly and effectively in higher education, maximizing its benefits while reducing risks or ethical dilemmas.
Keeping up with rapid advancements in AI technology requires constant evaluation and modification of these efforts.
Ultimately, it is about using AI to its full potential in higher education while upholding the highest moral standards and protecting the rights of all parties involved.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Malaysiakini.
