How China Is Using Artificial Intelligence in Classrooms | WSJ

The Wall Street Journal
1 Oct 201905:43

TLDRChinese primary schools are integrating AI technology into education, using headbands to monitor students' concentration levels and robots to analyze their health and engagement. This data is shared with teachers and parents, and is part of a government-backed initiative to lead in AI globally. Despite concerns about privacy and the accuracy of the technology, schools report improved discipline and academic performance among students.

Takeaways

  • 💡 Primary schools in China are integrating artificial intelligence to monitor students' concentration levels through headbands that measure brainwaves, with data sent directly to teachers and parents.
  • 📲 China aims to be a global leader in artificial intelligence, leveraging it to create a cashless economy and a vast surveillance network with facial recognition to monitor citizens.
  • 🧪 In some schools, robots analyze students' health and engagement, uniforms with chips track locations, and cameras monitor phone use and yawning in class, sparking concern among netizens.
  • 📝 Parental consent for children to participate in AI-driven education experiments has been surprisingly easy to obtain, despite privacy concerns.
  • 💻 The government's investment in AI education includes partnerships with tech giants and startups, aiming to improve students' grades and develop advanced AI algorithms.
  • 📈 A primary school outside Shanghai uses AI technology to enhance learning, starting the day with meditation aided by brainwave-sensing gadgets.
  • 📱 These devices, made in China, employ electrodes to pick up brain signals, sending real-time neural data to teachers for monitoring concentration.
  • 📣 Reports generated from the data detail class concentration levels at intervals, shared with parents, raising questions about the devices' effectiveness and privacy.
  • 👨‍💻 Experts like Theodore Zanto from UCSF caution that EEG technology in classrooms may produce false readings and lack privacy protection for students.
  • 🚴‍♂️ The technology has reportedly made students more disciplined, improving attention and academic performance, but also introduces new pressures, especially for those with lower attention scores.

Q & A

  • What is the primary purpose of the headbands used in Chinese primary schools?

    -The headbands are used to measure each student's level of concentration, with the data being sent to the teacher's computer and parents.

  • How does China aim to leverage artificial intelligence in its education system?

    -China aims to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, using it to boost students' grades and feed powerful algorithms, through high-tech tools like brain wave sensing gadgets and surveillance cameras in classrooms.

  • What kind of high-tech devices are being used in Chinese classrooms to monitor students?

    -Devices such as headbands that measure concentration levels, robots that analyze students' health and engagement, uniforms with tracking chips, and surveillance cameras that monitor phone usage and yawning during classes.

  • How does the neural data from the headbands help teachers in the classroom?

    -The neural data from the headbands allows teachers to quickly identify which students are paying attention and which are not, by sending electrical signals from the brain to the teacher's computer in real-time.

  • What is the role of the EEG technology in the classroom?

    -The EEG technology, used in the form of headbands, picks up electrical signals sent by neurons in the brain to measure the students' concentration levels.

  • What are the concerns raised by experts about the use of EEG technology in schools?

    -Experts are concerned about the susceptibility of EEG to artifacts, the potential for false readings due to improper setup or fidgeting, and the lack of privacy protection for the collected data.

  • How have students and parents responded to the use of these high-tech monitoring devices?

    -While schools report that the devices have led to more disciplined students and improved grades, some students feel added pressure due to potential punishment for low attention scores, and parents may not be fully aware of where their child's data ends up.

  • What is the broader societal impact of integrating AI into education in China?

    -The integration of AI into education is part of China's larger push into artificial intelligence, which has societal implications such as a cashless economy and a vast surveillance network, raising concerns about privacy and the future of high-tech education.

  • How does the Chinese government support the use of AI in education?

    -The Chinese government has invested billions of dollars into the project, bringing together tech giants, startups, and schools to implement and develop AI technologies in education.

  • What is the potential long-term outcome of using AI in education as per the script?

    -The long-term outcome is not entirely clear, but it suggests that these tools may help raise grades for millions of students. However, the full impact on students' development into adult citizens won't be apparent until they reach adulthood.

  • What is the role of the chat group for parents in the AI education system?

    -The chat group for parents is used to send detailed reports on how well the class was paying attention, including each student's concentration level at 10-minute intervals, to keep them informed about their child's performance.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 AI in Chinese Education: High-Tech Monitoring and its Impact

This paragraph discusses the integration of AI technology in Chinese primary schools, where students wear headbands that measure their concentration levels. The data is sent to teachers and parents, aiming to boost academic performance. Classrooms also employ robots to analyze students' health and engagement, and uniforms with tracking chips. Despite concerns from netizens, the government invests heavily in this AI education experiment, involving tech giants and startups. The effectiveness and ethical implications of these tools are questioned, with experts noting the susceptibility to false readings and the lack of privacy protection for students.

05:02

🚨 Privacy and Ethical Concerns in AI-Driven Education

The second paragraph focuses on the broader concerns regarding privacy and ethics in the context of AI in education in China. Experts warn about the potential misuse of data collected from students and the lack of clear privacy protections. The classrooms are described as laboratories for future generations, with the long-term effects of these AI tools on students' development remaining uncertain. The paragraph emphasizes the need for careful consideration of the impact of such technologies on students as they grow into adulthood.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. In the video, AI is central to China's ambition to become a global leader in technology, with applications ranging from education to surveillance and cashless transactions.

💡Concentration Headbands

Concentration Headbands are wearable devices that use sensors to measure the level of focus or attention of the wearer. In the context of the video, these headbands are used in Chinese schools to monitor students' concentration levels during classes, with the data being sent to teachers and parents.

💡Surveillance Cameras

Surveillance cameras are devices used to monitor an area or activity, often for security purposes. In the video, they are part of a large network with facial recognition technology that helps the police monitor citizens, illustrating the integration of AI into public safety and control in China.

💡Cashless Economy

A cashless economy is a financial system where transactions are conducted without the use of physical cash, relying instead on digital or electronic payment methods. The video indicates that China has enabled a cashless economy, where purchases can be made using facial recognition technology, showcasing the integration of AI into financial transactions.

💡Facial Recognition

Facial recognition is a technology that identifies or verifies the identity of a person by analyzing patterns based on the person's face. In the video, facial recognition is used in various contexts, including surveillance and cashless transactions, demonstrating its integral role in China's AI-driven initiatives.

💡High Tech Education

High Tech Education refers to the integration of advanced technology into teaching and learning processes to enhance educational outcomes. The video showcases high tech education in China through the use of AI devices like headbands for measuring concentration and robots for health analysis, indicating a shift towards technology-assisted learning environments.

💡Neural Data

Neural data refers to the information collected from the brain's neural activity, often through methods like electroencephalography (EEG). In the video, neural data is collected from students wearing headbands to measure their brainwave activity, which is then used to assess their level of concentration.

💡Parental Consent

Parental Consent is the permission given by parents or guardians for their children to participate in certain activities or programs. In the video, it is mentioned that schools found it easy to obtain parental consent for enrolling children in AI education experiments, indicating the acceptance of these technologies by parents.

💡Algorithms

Algorithms are sets of rules or instructions for solving problems or accomplishing tasks, especially in computing. In the context of the video, algorithms refer to the AI programs that analyze the data collected from students, aiming to boost their grades and contribute to research.

💡Privacy Concerns

Privacy concerns refer to the potential risks and issues related to the collection, use, and storage of personal information. In the video, these concerns are raised in relation to the use of AI devices in schools, as there is ambiguity about how the collected data is protected and used.

💡EEG (Electroencephalography)

EEG, or Electroencephalography, is a non-invasive diagnostic test that measures and records the electrical activity of the brain. In the video, EEG technology is used in concentration headbands to detect brainwave patterns, which are then interpreted as levels of attention.

Highlights

Teachers at this primary school in China know exactly when someone isn't paying attention, using headbands to measure each student's level of concentration.

China has big plans to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, impacting various aspects of daily life, including a cashless economy and surveillance.

Schools employ robots for analyzing students' health, uniforms with chips for tracking locations, and cameras to monitor phone usage and attentiveness.

Gaining parental consent for children's participation in AI education experiments was straightforward, supported by substantial government investment.

A visit to a primary school outside of Shanghai showcased the use of AI technology, such as brain wave sensing gadgets, in education.

Students start their day with a device that senses brain waves to measure concentration, sending data in real time to teachers.

The neural data from the students is analyzed in real-time, allowing teachers to identify who is paying attention and who is not.

Concentration levels of students are reported in detail to parents, showing the effectiveness of AI in enhancing educational engagement.

Despite the detailed reports generated by the devices, there are questions about the accuracy and effectiveness of this technology in measuring concentration.

There are concerns regarding privacy and the additional pressure on students, especially those punished by parents for low attention scores.

Data collected from students could potentially be used in government-funded research projects, raising further privacy issues.

Experts, including neural scientists, warn that the use of such technology in classrooms comes with significant privacy risks.

Teachers claim that the use of headbands has improved student discipline and attention, leading to better academic performance.

Students express concerns about the pressure they face due to the monitoring of their attention levels, impacting their stress levels.

The extensive integration of AI into education serves as a laboratory for future generations, with its impact on society yet to be fully realized.

Create Stunning AI Art Instantly

No login. No cost. Just incredible AI images !

Create Stunning AI Art InstantlyGenerate Now