South Florida: generative AI and its impact on education in South Florida, – The upcoming G7 Summit is set to address the management of artificial intelligence data, and developers believe that generative AI could have a transformative impact on education in South Florida.
Stephanie Sylvestre, Co-Founder of Avatar Buddy, emphasized the urgent need for low-income and low-resource areas to embrace generative AI. She warned that failing to do so would widen the achievement gap significantly.
Having previously worked as an IT expert for Subway and Burger King, Sylvestre made a career shift to focus on generative AI. Her company has developed an app that provides self-help resources, specifically targeting children who lack access to tutors. The app can assist with writing paragraphs in response to text requests and also offers step-by-step guidance for solving math problems.
Similar programs with wider recognition offer comparable features and, importantly, provide emotional support to students, according to Sylvestre.
Imagine, she explained, if you’ve taken a test and failed. While feeling down on yourself, you have a conversation with the app. It responds by reassuring you that everyone makes mistakes and provides positive reinforcement. This is particularly valuable for students whose parents are too occupied with financial struggles to offer emotional support. OpenAI sells its ChatGPT service for an affordable monthly fee of $20, which is a reasonable alternative to hiring a tutor or personal coach for a short duration.
Those studying artificial intelligence at Miami Dade College and the University of Miami recognize the risks associated with this technology. David Chapman, a computer science professor at the University of Miami, highlighted the consequences of refusing to familiarize oneself with AI.
Chapman warned, “You risk being left behind. AI is becoming an integral part of our lives, enhancing our effectiveness in various domains.”
However, developers also acknowledge the potential challenges that arise with AI. The absence of international regulations leaves cross-border data security as a significant concern, which will be discussed among G7 Summit leaders in Hiroshima, Japan.
Privacy is another vital aspect to consider in AI-powered chat applications.
Chapman raised the question, “If individuals are inputting information into these models, who ultimately owns and has access to those conversations?”
Sylvestre assured that her company’s products address privacy concerns by enabling users to delete their chat histories. Nonetheless, their primary focus remains on the future, and they see no reason to deviate from their current path.