We have no right to hide from students that AI is a great tutor

AI platforms have presented us with an array of applications in education, some of which might invite controversy. Yet, one application stands out with its near-universal endorsement: AI-powered chatbots serving as personal tutors.

In medical research, some lengthy trials are occasionally suspended because the benefits of a new medication are so overwhelmingly apparent that it becomes unethical to delay making the new drug available to all. The same reasoning applies here. You may need time to consider whether writing with ChatGPT is justified, or you might feel uneasy about using AI to generate class assignments. However, we have reached a point where failing to encourage students to use chatbots for individual tutoring could be seen as an ethical lapse.

For educators, providing individual attention to students is both the most valuable and the scarcest commodity. Yet, AI chatbots like ChatGPT offer an abundance of it. The quality will never match human tutoring, but it's better than nothing. AI encompasses every subject and exhibits infinite patience. Its unique capacity to generate myriad examples and exercises tailored to a student's needs further underscores its unmatched utility in facilitating personalized learning.

Of course, speedy adoption doesn't equate to thoughtless adoption. The shortcomings of AI become apparent in advanced studies or when navigating the frontier of new theories and methodologies. Yet, even within these limitations, AI chatbots prove superior to existing alternatives, particularly in foundational subjects where students often struggle. This technology has the potential to bridge the socio-economic divide in education, providing universal access to a resource that was previously exclusive to those with substantial financial resources.

However, the responsibility of educators extends beyond simply providing students with this tool. Guiding students to use AI chatbots responsibly and effectively is paramount. Here's what I suggest for inclusion in most course syllabi:

"The instructor strongly encourages students to use ChatGPT as a personal tutor. Ask it to explain concepts you're having trouble understanding. Ask it to explain differently, using different examples. Ask it to test your understanding of difficult concepts. Ask it to provide feedback on your paper. DON'T ask it to do the work for you – you'll learn little from that."

I would also encourage every instructor to hold a demo session in class to show how to use ChatGPT as a personal tutor.