We live in exponential times, and merely having a digital strategy focused on continuous innovation is no longer enough to thrive in a constantly changing world. To transform an organisation and contribute to building a secure and rewarding networked society, collaboration among employees, customers, business units and even things is increasingly becoming key.
Especially with the availability of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, organisations now, more than ever before, need to focus on bringing together the different stakeholders to co-create the future. Big data empowers customers and employees, the Internet of Things will create vast amounts of data and connects all devices, while artificial intelligence creates new human-machine interactions. In today’s world, every organisation is a data organisation, and AI is required to make sense of it all.
The development of AI is speeding up daily. Only recently, Google’s DeepMind created the AI AlphaStar that secured a decisive victory against two grandmaster players of the game of StarCraft II. In a series of test matches they played, the algorithm won 5–0. Day by day, AI is becoming more intelligent and better adaptable to complex situations.
Moreover, in April 2019, OpenAI moved the barrier even further. Its AI system, OpenAI Five, beat a world champion e-sports team in the game Dota 2— a complex strategy game that requires players to collaborate to win. AI has moved into strategy.
With AI developing at such speed, it is challenging to keep up with all the changes. However, having at least a basic understanding of what artificial intelligence is and what it is capable of becomes more and more required in today’s society. Not only do we need an excellent educational system to train AI developers, but AI can also significantly improve education.
The opportunities for AI in education are enormous, ranging from personalised learning plans and coaching using AI, robot teachers, automation of administrative tasks to equal access for all students. AI will change education forever. Let’s look at how AI is changing education.
China Marching Ahead with AI in Classrooms. They are rapidly reshaping its education system, and AI is central to changing how students learn. In the past years, a completely new industry appeared, and millions of students now use some form of AI to learn. This ranges from digital learning platforms where AI mentors students to tracking emotions and attention in classrooms using facial recognition. AI is becoming pervasive in the Chinese education system.
One of China’s largest AI education companies is Squirrel. Squirrel AI Learning is an AI-powered education provider. The company offers personalised after-school tutoring using adaptive learning. This entails that the technology responds to how a student performs. Consequently, each student receives a tailor-made, highly-personalised training program. Through assessments, the system understands a student’s weaknesses and strengths. Students will only learn what they do not know. Once a student has mastered a subject, the system moves on.
So far, 2 million students have signed up, and there are 2000 physical learning centres. Students can choose between working online from home or learning at a learning centre. It allows students in rural areas, with lack of access to good teachers, to learn similar to students in Beijing.
Squirrel aims not to replace teachers but to help teachers with AI. AI cannot replace emotional support. According to Squirrel, 80% of the students using the system, perform better, are more focused and require less time to study.
