Homework will ‘never be the same,’ ChatGPT-maker's OpenAI CEO tells students in Tokyo

CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Sam Altman, on Monday (June 12) while addressing students in Tokyo, said that artificial intelligence (AI) tools will revolutionise education like how calculators did years ago without actually replacing learning. Altman also expressed optimism about the possible global coordination on how to regulate AI.

Is AI a ‘new tool’ for education?

“Probably take-home essays are never going to be quite the same again,” said the ChatGPT founder while speaking at Tokyo’s Keio University. He also called AI a “new tool in education” and “sort of like a calculator for words".

Add WION as a Preferred Source

ALSO READ |Explained: AI assisted ‘cheating’ fears make Australian varsities go back to ‘pen and paper’ tests

Altman was seemingly defending the new technology amid concerns that students will use ChatGPT, which has the ability to generate human-like conversations, for writing and translations, instead of producing original work.

He also spoke about how these AI tools, which we currently have access tom are “extremely primitive” when compared to the ones we are going to see in a couple of years. “The way we teach people is going to have to change and the way we evaluate students is going to have to change,” said the OpenAI CEO.

ALSO READ |'Godfather of AI' quits Google, says chatbots may become 'more intelligent than us'

Altman, who is in the midst of a world tour to discuss possibilities and regulations for AI, is also due to visit Singapore, Indonesia and Australia before returning to the United States.

Altman ‘optimistic’ about global coordination for AI

During an open dialogue with the students in Tokyo, the OpenAI CEO also said he is “quite optimistic” about the prospects for global coordination on AI. “I came to the trip...sceptical that it was going to be possible in the short term to get global cooperation to reduce existential risk but I am now wrapping up the trip feeling quite optimistic we can get it done,” said Altman.

The ChatGPT founder’s world tour comes weeks after he addressed a panel of US lawmakers, calling for regulation of the “increasingly powerful models” of AI and said it is “critical” to mitigate the risks the technology poses.

ALSO READ |OpenAI CEO testifies before US Congress, calls regulation of artificial intelligence ‘critical’

He also reiterated some of his concerns on Monday and said, “We will feel super responsible, no matter how it goes wrong.” Meanwhile, lawmakers in various countries are scrambling to adapt existing rules and create new guidelines to regulate the use of AI.

Altman also spoke about the regulationefforts during his tour with business and political leaders without giving any further details. The open dialogue in Tokyo also came months after the OpenAI CEO met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and said he is considering opening an office in the country.

ALSO WATCH |Gravitas: How Italy is tackling the AI threat

“All of the conversations have progressed quite well,” said Altman. He also addressed fears about AI making many existing jobs obsolete and conceded that “some jobs will go away”. However, he also said that the “employment impact that people expect” and insisted that new jobs will emerge.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.