Summary
Title: The Costs of AI in Education - by Marc Watkins - Rhetorica
Key Points:
- Universities are adopting AI with a focus on creating an illusion of control rather than addressing real educational needs.
- The push for equity in AI access is often a narrative used to justify the marketing strategies of AI companies rather than a genuine concern for students’ needs.
- Students already have access to effective generative AI tools at little or no cost, making large institutional purchases unnecessary.
- Faculty often don’t require institutional licenses to explore generative AI tools.
- The unpredictable nature of AI technology evolution raises doubts about the effectiveness of current investments in AI by educational institutions.
References: Not provided within the content.
Executive Summary
Marc Watkins argues that the current trend of widespread AI adoption in universities is driven more by perceptions of control and the allure of future-proofing education rather than actual needs. While the narrative focuses on equity and access, most students already have access to essential AI tools at minimal costs. The efficacy of large-scale institutional licenses is questioned, as neither educators nor administrators can anticipate the rapid changes in AI technology.
12ft.io Link: https://12ft.io/https://open.substack.com/pub/marcwatkins/p/the-costs-of-ai-in-education?r=2fj9s&utm_medium=ios
Archive.org Link: https://web.archive.org/web/https://open.substack.com/pub/marcwatkins/p/the-costs-of-ai-in-education?r=2fj9s&utm_medium=ios
Original Link: https://open.substack.com/pub/marcwatkins/p/the-costs-of-ai-in-education?r=2fj9s&utm_medium=ios
User Message: The Costs of AI in Education - by Marc Watkins - Rhetorica
for more on see the post on bypassing methods