Quote of the Week: Can Neural Networks Replace Humans in Educational Content Creation?

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Course with employment: "The profession of a Methodologist from scratch to PRO"

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On February 16, a presentation of the "White Research" took place, during which an analysis of the Russian online education market was conducted. The recording of the broadcast is available for viewing. The event included a discussion with representatives of this sector, focusing on products and technologies. Particular attention was paid to the use of generative artificial intelligence in the development of educational products.

The discussion's moderator, Alexandra Dorofeeva, initiator of the "White Research" and founder of the MyProduce production center, posed an important question to the participants: can generative AI technologies replace educational content creators? Participants unanimously concluded that completely replacing humans with technology is impossible, but some functions can be delegated to artificial intelligence. This underscores the importance of harmoniously combining human creativity and the capabilities of new technologies in the creation of high-quality educational content.

Andrey Smirnov, ML developer at Yandex Praktikum, explains that when requesting content generation by artificial intelligence, a situation may arise where the AI does not have up-to-date information. This is because models using generative neural networks don't always have access to the most up-to-date information. While some content will indeed be created using AI, it's important to note that the primary value will still lie with people capable of creating high-quality and relevant content. A human approach to content creation remains indispensable in a rapidly changing information landscape.

Tatyana Smirnova, head of the educational product department at Netology, noted that widespread fears of mass job losses due to artificial intelligence are often exaggerated. She emphasized that while predictions initially center on machines replacing humans, in practice, effective use of AI requires new skills and competencies. Smirnova is confident that artificial intelligence will not replace teachers in online learning, but rather, will qualitatively complement their work, improving interactions between people and enhancing the educational process.

Artem Zakharov, founder of Puzzle Brain, asserts that artificial intelligence can only replace humans in the area of standard, typical knowledge. However, in situations where the transfer of unique, authorial experience is required, AI cannot serve as a full-fledged replacement. He cites the process of making pasta carbonara as an example: if this art is taught solely using artificial intelligence, the result will be identical dishes in every restaurant, which can hardly be considered a positive outcome.

The experts discussed how they would react to the use of artificial intelligence by online school staff in developing educational materials. All participants agreed that the use of AI in education can be beneficial if it positively impacts the quality of learning and student outcomes. The introduction of modern technologies in the process of creating lessons is considered acceptable if it contributes to the improvement of the educational process.

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Andrey Smirnov emphasized that if he were a manager who discovered an employee using AI, he would first evaluate the quality of the lessons. If it met high standards, he would then analyze how much time the employee spends creating courses. If it turns out that they're developing high-quality courses faster than their colleagues, he should invite them to share their experience using neural networks with the team. The speaker also added that it's important to then conduct a PR campaign for students to explain how AI is used in course development and how it contributes to the creation of content that enhances their learning process. Effective use of AI in education can significantly improve the quality of learning and simplify the creation of educational materials.

Artem Zakharov noted that Puzzle Brain actively supports the use of artificial intelligence. He cited the example of a developer of courses on neural networks who uses AI in the creation of her materials. According to Artem, she managed to develop around 40 courses in two to three months, significantly exceeding the productivity of other authors. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a personal style and uniqueness. If an author integrates neural networks into their work while also conveying their experience, experiences, and other aspects related to mastering the topic, this can be entirely justified. For beginning authors of simple courses, the use of generative AI can be a very useful tool.

Artificial intelligence can be a valuable tool in creating short course programs. As an author, you are sure to notice several aspects that might otherwise be overlooked. This is especially useful for those just beginning to explore a new topic. For example, if you are learning to cook carbonara, ready-made recipes will become essential. However, over time, as you gain experience, such recipes will lose their relevance. In this case, you will act like a chef, and artificial intelligence will be only a small assistant, while your own experience and individual approach will play the main role in preparing the dish.

Tatyana Smirnova noted that at Netology, methodologists and educational designers are actively exploring the possibilities of using artificial intelligence. The use of AI does not involve creating entire educational courses, but rather focuses on performing specific tasks. For example, AI technologies allow for the efficient collection and processing of data, as well as generating questions on various topics. This opens new horizons for optimizing educational processes and increasing their effectiveness.

From our experience, it is impractical to simply assign a task to artificial intelligence and expect a high-quality result. It is necessary to independently understand the issue, clearly formulate the task for artificial intelligence, and then carefully verify the obtained results. Artificial intelligence often produces inaccurate data, requiring additional verification and analysis.

Tatyana actively supports experiments, including the integration of neural networks into workflows. She noted that one example of this approach is a colleague's proposal to use artificial intelligence to analyze the state of courses. This involves collecting student and graduate feedback and then analyzing its semantics and sentiment. This analysis is expected to reveal new aspects that might previously have gone unnoticed within specific courses.

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The question of the potential threat from artificial intelligence for educational products aimed at teaching simple and non-unique The development of generative neural networks is becoming increasingly relevant. With the development of generative neural networks, there is a risk that they could completely replace small online schools offering courses on mastering these skills. If every user can independently generate the necessary information using AI tools, the feasibility of such educational platforms is questionable. It is important to consider how to adapt to these changes and what value online schools can offer to remain competitive in the face of the growing influence of technology. Andrey Smirnov noted that AI assistants should be considered an additional channel for delivering content to users, alongside traditional formats such as books and videos. However, not all users know how to effectively use these technologies. Tatyana Smirnova added that with the advent of website builders such as Tilda and Wix, the profession of web developers has not lost its relevance, and they still have work tasks. "I believe a similar situation awaits online schools: they will not disappear, but they will need to find new unique selling propositions," Tatyana expressed her opinion.