Generative AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Claude seem to be a fundamentally novel form of technology when used in educational settings. Unlike previous educational technologies, these bots can generate new content based on plain-language prompts, potentially marking a significant shift in how learners use educational tools to engage in learning activities and demonstrate their knowledge. In this keynote we will explore the potential impacts – positive and negative – of integrating AI chatbots into learning environments. While they offer unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning and efficient access to information, there are real concerns about what might be lost in the process, just as there are with the introduction of any new technology into a learning environment. The presentation is intended to provoke reflection about the balance between the benefits of adopting AI chatbots (as they exist now and in the forms they might take in the near future) in all educational settings and the potential drawbacks, especially with respect to fostering motivation, creativity, critical thinking, and independent research and writing competencies.

Keynote Speaker: James Diamond

Published in: Ireland International Conference on Education (IICE-2024)

• Date of Conference: 2-4 April, 2024
• DOI: 10.20533/IICE.2024.0001
• ISBN: 978-1-913572-70-9
• Conference Location: Dún Laoghaire, Ireland