A recent study conducted by Professor Christian Terwiesch of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School found that the artificial intelligence-driven chatbot GPT-3 was able to pass the final exam for the school’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. The bot, which scored between a B- and B on the exam, displayed a “remarkable ability to automate some of the skills of highly compensated knowledge workers,” according to Terwiesch.
The bot performed well on basic operations management and process analysis questions, including those based on case studies. It also demonstrated an ability to modify its answers in response to human hints. However, Terwiesch did note that the bot made “surprising mistakes in relatively simple calculations at the level of 6th grade Math” and was not capable of handling more advanced process analysis questions.
The study and the rise of AI chatbots like GPT-3 have sparked concerns about the potential for cheating and the impact of AI on education. The New York City Department of Education recently announced a ban on ChatGPT from its schools’ devices and networks. Experts in both artificial intelligence and education have acknowledged that bots like ChatGPT could be a detriment to education in the future, but some educators and experts believe that there is a way to marry education and AI to enhance learning for students.
Professor Terwiesch believes that the use of AI in education can be beneficial if used in the right way. “I think we need to be very careful about how we implement AI in education,” he said. “We need to be very thoughtful about how we design the curriculum, how we design the exams, and how we design the learning process.”
It is clear that the use of AI in education is a complex and nuanced issue that requires further examination and discussion. The potential for AI to automate certain tasks and improve productivity is undeniable, but it is important to consider the potential negative consequences as well. Ultimately, it is up to educators and policymakers to find the right balance and ensure that AI is used in a way that enhances, rather than hinders, education.
