In this revealing episode, host Mike Palmer delves into the concerning increase in chronic absenteeism among students in the United States, as highlighted in a recent article from The New York Times. The discussion shifts to explore how AI-powered chatbots and personal virtual assistants like “Ed” from AllHere are being used to address this issue, gaining recognition for their efforts in the LA Unified School District. Mike revisits his informative 2021 interview with AllHere’s founder Joanna Smith, who talks about the company’s innovative use of conversational AI to promote engagement and support student success outside of the classroom.
The episode also includes a lively conversation with the show’s AI co-host, Nancy, as they discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of combining human and artificial intelligence in education. Key points include the importance of thoughtful design when integrating AI with human empathy, the idea of chatbots serving as “empathy engines,” and the necessity of involving humans in the process while utilizing AI’s scalability. The episode also references the NYC chatbot incident discussed in the conversation.
Don’t miss this timely and thought-provoking exploration of how emerging technologies like chatbots could help address real-world issues such as chronic absenteeism, while also raising important ethical questions about the role of AI in education and human development. Tune in for a nuanced discussion that will leave you contemplating the future of human-AI collaboration in promoting student engagement and achievement.
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Episode References
MacDonald, C. (2024, March 31). NYC’s business chatbot is reportedly doling out ‘dangerously inaccurate’ information. Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/nycs-business-chatbot-is-reportedly-doling-out-dangerously-inaccurate-information-203926922.html
Mervosh, S., & Paris, F. (2024, March 29). Why School Absences Have ‘Exploded’ Almost Everywhere. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/29/us/chronic-absences.html
Los Angeles Unified Launches Ed, a Pioneering Learning Acceleration AI Platform to Improve Student Achievement (3-20-24). (2024, March 20). AllHere. https://www.lausd.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=4466&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=168886&PageID=1