Will the new version of GPT-4 make language education platforms obsolete?

Contents:

• How experts evaluate the predictions about the death of language projects
• What do they think about this?
• Can language AI bots become a breakthrough for children's education?

How experts evaluate the predictions about the death of language projects

May 14, the English language school "Antishkola" hosted an online discussion dedicated to the impact of artificial intelligence on the educational technology (EdTech) industry. During the discussion, participants addressed rumors about Duolingo's share price decline, which could be related to the latest OpenAI release. Mikhail Sverdlov, former CBDO of the online university Skypro and former director of educational product and content at the online school Skyeng, noted that it is unclear whether this decline is due to correlation or a simple coincidence. However, many analysts and media outlets have presented this situation as an interconnected phenomenon, claiming that "the world of language schools has found itself in a difficult situation." The discussion highlights the importance of analyzing the impact of technology on the language education market and the need to adapt to new conditions. Mikhail noted that this is not the first attempt to predict the imminent demise of educational projects. Similar predictions were made at the time of the advent of Google Translate and the introduction of simultaneous translation. These predictions, as practice shows, often turn out to be incorrect, as educational technologies continue to develop and adapt to new conditions.

Expert doesn't think there's any need to worry about the future of language learning. He's confident that this field will become more engaging and diverse. New technologies and teaching methods will open up new horizons, making language learning more appealing to students.

Ten years ago, I first heard the claim that modern technology could completely change the process of language learning. Some even believe that in the future, we won't need to learn languages, since technology will reach such a level that it will be possible to implant chips. Elon Musk is actively working on this idea at his company Neuralink, and there have already been cases of chips being implanted in the human brain. This raises the question of whether learning will become unnecessary: ​​just press a button on the device, and all the information will be available. However, it's worth noting that such knowledge may remain superficial. It doesn't provide the depth of understanding that comes from the natural learning process, which forms neural connections and memorizes important aspects of the language.

Natalia Pereldik, co-founder of Funexpected Math, expressed doubts about the connection between Duolingo's share price decline and the release of the new version of GPT-4. She emphasized that while the EdTech market appears impressive, it actually represents only 5-6% of the overall education industry. This means that transforming all education into a digital space is a complex task. Furthermore, Natalia noted that few companies have yet achieved high levels of customer retention (a retention metric) without the involvement of human specialists. She emphasized that people's motivation to learn remains low, and many are inclined to drop out of courses.

According to experts, the best motivation for continuing education is interaction with a teacher. Personal communication and teacher support play a key role in the educational process. At the same time, artificial intelligence tools can significantly improve teachers' effectiveness, transforming their role in the educational system. Instead of simply assigning tasks, teachers can become coaches who offer students guidance and opportunities for independent learning. This shift encourages greater student engagement and helps develop their independence. Natalia noted that Duolingo's uniqueness lies in its social component. The company itself emphasizes that the platform not only helps with language learning but also offers an alternative to mindlessly scrolling through social media content. Duolingo provides users with the opportunity to effectively learn languages ​​in an interactive and engaging way, making learning more engaging and productive. Anika Brain, founder of projects such as Antishkola, Brainika, Bilingval, and PlaySEND, noted that with the development of technology, there are often predictions of a negative impact on the EdTech sector. Indeed, some companies are failing to adapt to changes. However, technological progress provides many new tools that can be useful. It is important to note that these tools are not always as perfect as they might initially seem. "It's more like a vitamin than a full-fledged medicine," she emphasizes.

What does Skyeng think about this?

We conducted a study to understand the prospects for online language schools in Russia, focusing on the leading player in this niche – Skyeng. Varvara Novozhilova, Head of Innovation Search and Development, noted that artificial intelligence is more of an auxiliary tool than a threat to major market players. This underscores the importance of adapting and implementing new technologies into the educational process to remain competitive in a rapidly changing market.

Neural networks have become an integral part of our lives, and their impact on the development of the EdTech segment is undeniable. Artificial intelligence significantly improves the quality and speed of adapting educational content to individual student needs. There are many models on the market, including those from Skyeng, that effectively solve various educational problems. However, the use of AI may pose a threat to smaller companies and private tutors, who may find it difficult to compete with larger players.

Small market players face a serious challenge: limited resources, which prevents them from developing their own neural networks with advanced features and training them on large datasets. Small educational institutions and tutors can resort to ready-made solutions, but their effectiveness often leaves much to be desired, as Varvara Novozhilova notes. In an increasingly competitive environment, it is important to find optimal tools that will help maximize available resources and improve the quality of educational services.

Neural networks do simplify the educational process, but they should not be viewed as a one-size-fits-all solution. Most students still need a human mentor who can help them create a curriculum, find suitable materials, and guide them, saving time on preparation. This allows them to focus on the main task – learning. Although extensive information on a wide variety of topics is available online, many continue to turn to tutors and online schools for help. The role of the teacher is also changing: instead of being just a bearer of knowledge, they are becoming a tutor who supports the student's motivation and helps them effectively complete their educational journey.

Not all internet users have the ability to actively use artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT. Effectively using such systems requires at least a basic understanding of prompting. Furthermore, due to registration difficulties, only a small portion of Russian internet users turn to ChatGPT, and these tend to be the most motivated users.

The decline in Duolingo shares is not related to the launch of a new language model, Varvara, like many other experts, asserts. The company's shares have previously shown negative dynamics, which indicates deeper problems not solely related to new products.

Reading is an important aspect of our lives. It not only develops thinking but also enriches our inner world. By immersing ourselves in books, we discover new horizons and gain valuable knowledge. Reading improves concentration and memory, and also helps develop imagination and creativity. It is important to choose a variety of genres and authors to broaden your horizons and enrich your experience. Don't forget to share what you read with others; this will help you understand and process the information more deeply.

Reading books is not only a fun activity but also a healthy habit that brings numerous benefits.

The expert argues that the EdTech market must change its approach, moving away from a tech-centric view of education. Instead of focusing on technology, it needs to emphasize pedagogical methods and student needs. This shift will lead to more effective and inclusive educational solutions that better meet the needs of today's learners. Education should be focused on developing skills, critical thinking, and creativity, and technology should serve as a tool for achieving these goals, not an end in itself.

Could language-based AI bots be a breakthrough for children's education?

Varvara Novozhilova noted that the key feature of the new version of GPT-4o—the ability to engage in dialogue with the user—does not represent a significant breakthrough for educational projects. Although the main version of ChatGPT did not have this feature, many educational solutions have already been developed based on its technology, capable of understanding voice commands, albeit with a slower response time.

Mikhail Sverdlov and Nikita Lozovsky, educational producer and author of the "Educational Technologies" channel, noted during a discussion organized by Antishkola that GPT's new ability to understand voice commands is a significant breakthrough. This opens up vast opportunities for internet users who previously struggled with learning with AI bots due to insufficient education or native language proficiency. This particularly applies to children and individuals who were unable to formulate queries or interpret neural network responses. Now, thanks to voice interaction, access to educational resources is becoming easier and more intuitive for everyone.

Recently, Chinese researchers conducted An analysis was conducted to determine the extent to which chatbots facilitate learning. The study examined over 20 scientific publications on the topic. The results showed that chatbots can be useful in the educational process, but their impact on schoolchildren is insignificant. This is explained by the fact that young children often cannot clearly formulate their requests and do not always understand responses, which hinders effective interaction. It is important to note that this study focused specifically on written communication with chatbots. AI tutors capable of vocal communication and intonation recognition can significantly improve children's learning. However, as Varvara Novozhilova and Natalia Pereldik noted, there is a significant obstacle: children need a human mentor to help structure their learning and maintain motivation. Simply interacting with a voice bot in English does not guarantee successful language acquisition. The human element remains key in the educational process, providing the necessary support and feedback, which is especially important for children.