Artificial intellegence on London Morning: The changing landscape of AI in education

Artificial intelligence isn't just a subject for researchers and tech companies anymore; it's becoming part of daily life.

That's why London Morning is launching a new monthly column on AI with Mark Daley, Western University's Chief AI Officer. The first conversation focused on how the technology is already shaping education and what it means for students, teachers and families.

Daley said AI should be seen as a "general-purpose technology," comparing it to electricity or running water, something that eventually becomes woven into every corner of society and used in many different ways. In education, AI is being used in the classroom, in labs, and even in risk management situations.

However, much of the public attention is focused on how students are utilizing AI in their schoolwork. Daley said students can be trained to use AI for everything from study help to meal planning, but the emphasis is always on values.

"Ask yourself: am I using this to make me better? Did I write the essay myself and use AI for feedback, or did I have it write the whole essay so I could go out with friends? One of those makes you better, the other doesn't," Daley said.

When it comes to catching AI-written work today, Daley said it is nearly impossible.

"If the student is even moderately competent at prompting and proofreading, then you have no hope of knowing. It's actually mathematically impossible to be certain."

LISTEN | Artificial intelligence with Western's Mark Daley on London Morning:

Daley noted that younger students are also experimenting with AI, but often get mixed messages about whether it's useful or just "cheating." He said banning it outright wouldn't work; instead, parents and teachers should guide students back to their values and ask how the tools can be used to build skills, rather than bypass them.

Looking ahead, Daley believes AI will be as essential as reading and writing.

"The expectation, whether you're going for a job or higher education, is going to be that you know how to use this tool effectively," he said.

As a parent himself, Daley advises families not to make the conversation about "shiny technology," but back to the focus on values. "How can you use this technology to live those values, not rob you of them?"

He also shared a practical tip for those who haven't yet tried AI: pick a platform like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, and experiment by automating the three tasks you dislike most about your job.

"It might not solve all of them," Daley said. "But it could help with one or two, and in the process, you'll learn how to use it."

London Morning's AI column with Mark Daley will air monthly, with the next segment on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7:35 a.m. You can tune in at 93.5 FM, online at cbc.ca/London, or on the CBC News app.