Eight SA high schools to start trialling artificial intelligence app

South Australian schools are bringing artificial intelligence into the classroom as part of an Australian-first trial. What do you think of students using AI?

Students at select South Australian high schools will be the first in the nation to use artificial intelligence to help with their school work.

Eight public secondary schools across the state have begun using a chatbot, which is based on the same technology as the controversial ChatGPT.

The eight-week trial is intended to show students how artificial intelligence (AI) can support their studies through chatbots which can answer questions, image and video generation and intelligent tutoring systems.

However, education authorities say there will be extra safeguards built in to the app – designed in partnership with Microsoft – to ensure privacy and security and prevent students from accessing information that may put them at risk.

Schools taking part in the trial are Ceduna Area School, Streaky Bay Area School, Adelaide Botanic High School, Adelaide High School, Mitcham Girls High School, Unley High School, Thebarton Senior College, Glenunga International High School.

Adelaide Botanic High School is taking part in a nation-first AI trial. Picture Emma Brasier.

South Australia is the only jurisdiction in the country not to have banned AI in schools.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said he believed it was better to embrace new technologies “rather than attempting to ignore it and ban it”.

“AI will be a part of our work and lives in the future, which means we have a responsibility to educate young people about its appropriate and effective use,” Mr Boyer said.

“To ensure today’s students are best equipped for the modern workplace, it is vital they learn how to use this important technology while minimising the risks around the type of content they may be exposed to and helping to safeguard their privacy and the security of the data.”

Education Department chief executive Professor Martin Westwell said using AI tools was “just a starting point”.

“Critical thinking, a human-centred approach, creativity, understanding the context of the students and schools, and teachers’ professional judgment, all still need to be applied,” he said.

The department is also working with SA-based immersive technology company Lumination to develop a student challenge using AI.