There is great excitement and argument over Artificial Intelligence (AI). The argument about whether robots will replace teachers in the classroom is very heated. Some people think it is sure to happen in the next ten years. Others think that the value a good teacher brings, not only to the classroom setting, but in developing a child' s confidence and creativity outside lessons, cannot be easily replaced.
AI is not new for us and is already being used successfully in many fields, such as medicine, science and so on. So what does this mean for our future? In my view, AI will help kids to think more freely and creatively. Can AI possibly cut down the teaching work in the future? Of course. Our teachers are always busy preparing for their lessons. Just imagine how happy they will be if they don't have to correct hundreds of papers, but instead, have this task or others done by machines.
However, most importantly, I do not believe AI will be able to imitate the human mental condition totally, especially emotional intelligence (情商). What makes learning unforgettable is shared experience, human interaction, and long-lasting positive relationships. For example, experienced teachers can comfort a student if he has suffered a serious loss. But no research shows that robots can imitate this well.
I also believe we need to develop our kids' personality and their ability not only to make decisions but also make the right decision. To achieve this, relying only on AI is impossible.
In short, AI has both its advantages and disadvantages. To what degree can teachers use AI in their classes? You can have all the information you want with the help of AI, but great teachers will also need to depend on their own feelings.