AI not replacement for humans — US don

As the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) increasingly impacts various fields, Anne Cook, a university teacher and director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Utah, has addressed concerns about AI potentially replacing humans and making them redundant in the workplace.

Speaking at a webinar organized by the AI for Educators project in Nigeria, which is part of the U.S. Exchange Alumni Program, Cook emphasized the importance of AI and its significant role in education, particularly for teachers in the classroom.

Speaking on a topic, “Human-AI Collaboration: Strategies for Teachers to Lead in AI-Enhanced Classrooms,” Cook emphasised the importance of addressing the digital divide in classrooms to make AI effective.

According to her, this divide can be classified into four distinct areas- those without access to digital technology, those with access but lacking skills to utilise it, those who can use it but don’t do so effectively, as well as those who successfully harness its potential.

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Cook noted that to bridge these gaps also required certain steps to be taken, identifying and focusing on specific areas that include addressing existing gap disparities and institution-wide systems integration as most effective ones.

The don therefore advocated for the introduction of AI literacy to students from a young age, defining it as the ability to recognise, grasp, use, and critically assess AI technologies and their impacts.

She emphasized that fostering AI literacy early would make users see AI as a tool rather than a replacement, supporting both learners and educators, and enhancing classroom engagement through AI-powered chatbots.

A special guest at the forum, Brian Neubert, who is a Cultural Attaché at the US Embassy in Abuja, emphasised AI’s significance in today’s world and commended the project team.

On her part, Project Lead, Adanma Odefa, highlighted achievements so far recorded through the programme, listing training teachers in Ebonyi and Kebbi states, among others.

The webinar also featured contributions from AI For Educators team members, including, Flora Asibe, Olalekan Adeeko, Boboye Adeniji Oluwafemi, Chinwe Lilian Nwachukwu, Ngozi John-Uyah, Amina Aliyu Buhari, Akanu Ugonma Okorie, Yemisi Jeff-Agboola, Toluse Dove Francis and Aniekeme Finbarr.

The innovative AI for Educators project being funded by the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) under the US Embassy equips Nigerian secondary educators to effectively integrate AI, bridging the digital divide and enhancing student learning.

READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE