Revolutionizing Education and Society: This Week's Unmissable Insights on AI's Pioneering Roles and Ethical Debates

Welcome to the latest newsletter, where we dive into AI's exciting world, emphasizing education and broader societal impacts. There have been a lot of shakeups this week in AI.

Educational AI News:

AI Tutor Rori Boosts Math Scores in Ghana:

A study by the University of Oxford, Rising Academies, and J-PAL North America evaluates Rori, an AI-powered math tutor via WhatsApp, involving 1,000 students in Ghana. Over eight months, students using Rori alongside regular classes showed significantly higher math growth (effect size: 0.37, p < 0.001) than those with standard instruction alone. Rori's effectiveness on mobile devices and low bandwidth suggests its potential for scalable, personalized learning in low- and middle-income countries. While initial results are promising, further research is needed to explore optimal implementation strategies.

(https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2402/2402.09809.pdf?utm_source=www.therundown.ai&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=openai-reveals-insider-emails)

NCTM Advocates for Balanced AI Integration in Math Education:

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) has recently issued a position statement on using artificial intelligence in math education, emphasizing the dual approach of leveraging AI tools for learning while teaching students to assess the technology critically as one of the first educational organizations to address AI, NCTM's guidance officially is pivotal at a time when educators seek advice on integrating AI into teaching without necessarily relying on government directives. This stance underscores the potential of AI to enhance math learning, alongside the importance of fostering a healthy skepticism among students regarding AI's capabilities and limitations.

(https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/how-ai-should-change-math-education-new-guidance-on-how-to-adapt/2024/03)

Survey Reveals Most Schools Keep ChatGPT Unbanned, Emphasizing Educational Use

A recent survey by the EdWeek Research Center shows that most educators report their districts have not banned ChatGPT or other AI-powered language models. About 73% of the educators surveyed indicated no prohibition against these tools in their districts, while 20% noted that while teachers can use the technology, student access is restricted. Only 7% reported a complete ban for both teachers and students. This survey, involving 924 educators, highlights a growing consensus against outright bans of generative AI in education, with experts advocating for its informed use to prepare students for future workplace skills. Notably, districts like New York City have reconsidered initial bans, focusing instead on developing policies to guide AI's educational application. Leaders emphasize the importance of AI literacy as a crucial skill for future job competitiveness and address equity concerns by ensuring all students can learn about and use AI technology in schools.

(https://www.edweek.org/technology/does-your-district-ban-chatgpt-heres-what-educators-told-us/2024/02)

AI News:

AI Industry's Nuclear Push for Powering Future Tech:

The AI sector, led by Silicon Valley elites like OpenAI's Sam Altman, is advocating for a nuclear power revival, eyeing it as a sustainable energy source for its energy-intensive data centers. Oklo, a nuclear startup, aims to build compact, efficient reactors capable of powering data centers and communities, emphasizing the synergy between AI advancements and green energy solutions. Despite regulatory hurdles and safety concerns, the push for nuclear energy is gaining traction as a crucial step toward addressing the AI industry's growing energy demands and contributing to green energy transitions. This movement reflects a broader acknowledgment of nuclear power's role in achieving a low-carbon future and supporting the explosive growth of AI technologies.

(https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/nuclear-power-oklo-sam-altman-ai-energy-rcna139094)

Microsoft Engineer Flags Copilot Designer's Safety Flaws to FTC

A Microsoft engineer, Shane Jones, has raised significant safety concerns about the AI-powered Copilot Designer to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Jones reported that despite his warnings, Microsoft has not addressed the tool's capability to generate disturbing imagery, including violent and inappropriate scenes. The AI model used, DALLE-3, produced contentious images involving political, sexual, and violent content. Microsoft responded by emphasizing its commitment to addressing these concerns through established feedback channels and internal reporting, with ongoing reviews by its Office of Responsible AI.

(https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/6/24092191/microsoft-ai-engineer-copilot-designer-ftc-safety-concerns)

Anthropic's Claude 3 Sets New AI Benchmarks with Near-Human Proficiency

Anthropic's latest AI model, Claude 3, has outperformed rivals like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, achieving "near-human" proficiency across various tasks. This breakthrough was highlighted during internal tests, particularly with the Opus variant, which demonstrated an industry-first level of self-awareness during evaluations. Claude 3 comes in three versions: Haiku, Sonnet, and Opus, with each catering to different user needs, from high-speed processing to integrating text and image inputs. In benchmark tests, Opus exceeded GPT-4's capabilities in complex tasks, while Sonnet showed exceptional speed and intelligence. Claude 3's advanced visual processing and commitment to ethical AI development underscore its potential to revolutionize customer interactions and data processing, positioning Anthropic at the forefront of AI innovation.

(https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/2024/03/05/anthropic-latest-ai-model-beats-rivals-achieves-industry-first/)

AI Tools:

Audiopen: Streamlining Content Creation with AI

Audiopen offers a breakthrough AI solution for transforming voice notes into polished text, streamlining the writing process for students and professionals. This tool adapts to personal writing styles, ensuring outputs resonate with the user's authentic voice across various document types. Key features include organizational tagging, multilingual support, custom vocabulary options, adaptable writing styles, content refinement, and cross-platform accessibility with a handy Chrome extension. Despite being in its early stages with bugs and limited free version transcription times, Audiopen represents a significant leap in productivity and content creation efficiency.

(https://audiopen.ai/)

Brainly: AI-Powered Global Study Network

Brainly leverages GPT-4 technology to connect students with over 250 million academic answers, enhancing personalized learning and comprehension. Its features include customizable explanations, interactive Q&A, expert moderation, and a global discussion forum enriched with gamification for engaging study experiences. While offering free primary access, Brainly navigates content quality variability and regional discrepancies, with premium features available at $24/year. Brainly embodies a pioneering platform for collaborative, AI-enhanced education worldwide.

(https://brainly.com/)

What did you find the most exciting news this week?

Enjoy your week till next week.