Bill Gates believes that AI chatbots like ChatGPT will soon replace human teachers, according to a speech he delivered at the ASU+GSV event in San Diego.
According to the billionaire, AI is poised to aid children in learning to read and write in the next 18 months. This development will be particularly beneficial for underprivileged parents who cannot afford a human tutor, as it will be a cost-effective solution.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 24: Co-founder of Microsoft Bill Gates speaks during an event to mark the 20th anniversary of PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) at the United States Institute of Peace on February 24, 2023, in Washington, DC.
AI Chatbots as Teachers
The billionaire envisions AI chatbots engaging students in conversation to help them identify areas in which they need to improve, a function that human teachers currently carry out.
Gates anticipates that AI will initially help learners improve their reading and writing skills and will subsequently provide writing advice to assist teachers. One example of this is the Khanmigo project, created by Khan Academy, which utilizes GPT-4 to power a virtual teacher.
This technology has the potential to assist learners of various age groups in acquiring knowledge in fields such as mathematics, science, and humanities, in addition to serving as a writing mentor.
The rise of AI, including chatbots like ChatGPT, can be attributed to several factors, such as advancements in computer hardware, the availability of large amounts of data, improvements in machine learning algorithms, and the rise of cloud computing.
These factors have allowed AI to become more powerful and accessible, enabling the creation of intelligent systems that can learn from data, reason, and interact with humans in natural language.
Despite the promising potential of AI, there are certain tech leaders, including Elon Musk, who express worry that the technology might become too dominant and endanger humanity.
As a result of this pressure, the CEO and co-founder of OpenAI, Sam Altman, has agreed to halt the development of GPT-5, the upcoming version of the language model, until further notice.
However, Gates' perspective on AI is entirely different.
Gates' Optimism on AI
In March, Gates spoke about the importance of AI, citing the development of OpenAI's GPT model as a significant technological advancement. Gates challenged the team at OpenAI to train the AI to pass an Advanced Placement biology exam, capable of answering questions it hadn't been specifically trained for.
Gates expected it to take a few years, but they finished in just a few months. The AI was asked 60 multiple-choice questions from the exam and got 59 correct.
Gates believes that AI development is as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone. He predicts that it will change the way people work, learn, travel, receive healthcare, and communicate with each other.
He suggests that AI can help reduce inequity in the US by improving education, particularly math education.
In sum, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist is optimistic about the rise of AI, which is evident in his latest statement.
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