A recent consultation spearheaded by the Swiss-based Higher Education for Good Foundation, in partnership with the Financial Times, has revealed diverse views of young people aged 15-29 regarding artificial intelligence (AI). Conducted in April and May 2023 using AI to gather, translate, and summarize opinions globally, the consultation attracted over 1,000 responses.
A majority of participants expressed concerns about data protection and privacy. Floribert highlighted risks like AI being used to collect private data, while Geo noted the potential misuse of AI to monitor student interactions. Noamrech and Bangel echoed these concerns, advocating for stringent data usage limits and transparency measures.
The survey also underscored the environmental impact of AI, with four-fifths of respondents preferring to limit AI use due to its large carbon footprint. Awareness varied by region, with less concern in energy-rich areas like North America and the Middle East.
Regarding AI in education, 71% of respondents opposed replacing teachers with robots, valuing the emotional intelligence of human educators. A notable 77% favored restricting AI’s involvement in health and wellbeing tasks to protect sensitive information.
On the potential for AI to exacerbate inequality, respondents like Rasheed Jr. and Blanchard warned of the digital divide, emphasizing the need for global regulations to ensure equitable access and prevent biases.
Overall, young people see AI as a valuable tool if accompanied by strict regulations to protect privacy, ensure fairness, and address environmental impacts, maintaining a balance between technology and human elements in education and other aspects of life.