There have been countless discussions about incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the classroom among educators and subject matter specialists. While others are suspicious of how it can encourage cheating and produce false results, Khan Academy sees the benefits. Khan Academy introduces Khanmigo, an AI instructor.
The AI will be tested by more than 8,000 teachers and students. This AI-powered tool attempts to provide kids with tailored coaching and keep them interested with interactive elements. Khanmigo, which was first introduced in March to just 800 educators and students.
Khanmigo enables students to chat with a growing number of AI-powered historical figures, including Martin Luther King Jr., and Cleopatra, as well as fictional characters like Hamlet and Winnie the Pooh.
The Technical Benefits
According to Kristen DiCerbo, chief learning officer at Khan Academy, who spoke to CNN, Khanmigo helps with a problem she has personally observed while observing a classroom in Arizona: when children learn something new, they frequently need specialized attention —more aid than one teacher can offer all at once.
During a Khanmigo technology presentation for CNN, DiCerbo spoke with an AI-powered Dorothy from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and described how users can assess Khanmigo’s responses in real-time and provide feedback if and when Khanmigo makes mistakes.
Students can message the chatbot with questions or prompts like “I’d love to meet Christopher Columbus and the Khanmigo will talk as the personality, in turn giving history lessons.
More on Khanmigo
Khanmigo is equipped with knowledge going from history to current affairs. Khan Academy used OpenAI’s GPT-4 to create Khanmigo.
In order to maintain Khanmigo’s positive tone and avoid providing students with the solution to their problems, the firm also put in place guardrails.
A writing coach to help students build narratives is one of Khanmigo’s features, along with individualized assistance for resolving math, science, and humanities difficulties, a debate tool covering subjects like student debt cancellation and AI’s effect on the job market, and a tool for generating arguments. Additionally, it gives pupils the extraordinary chance to communicate with AI-powered historical and literary personalities.
Concerns
However, worries have been expressed over the potential for the chatbot tutor to be used as a means of cheating in the classroom. According to detractors, the AI’s speedy production of original replies can encourage pupils to plagiarize or provide false information.
Additionally, despite the chatbot tutor’s occasionally comically erroneous responses, it offers students the chance to examine information critically and distinguish between correct and incorrect answers. To enhance analytical abilities and build a deeper comprehension of the subject matter, critical thinking is crucial.
