Pros and Cons of Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Review

The COVID-19 pandemic has truly become a watershed in the global education scenario, resulting in an unprecedented surge in the advancement of educational technology. The usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI), whose reach is expanding in the post-pandemic era is one such quickly rising trend in the education industry. To put it simply, it is the field of study dealing with machines that have human-like intelligence and other traits like adaptability, problem-solving, and learning. The use of artificial intelligence is working as a relief for teachers from their tedious administrative work such as grading student assignments, and on the other hand, it provides personalized and customized learning experiences to the learners based on their own needs and interests, which in turn, facilitates effective learning. However, the application of artificial intelligence in education is not a bed of roses. Apart from the risks of lessening human contact and being a threat to the human workforce, there is another crucial issue - as pointed out by UNESCO - of inclusion and equity, especially in developing countries where neither every school nor every the learner has the means necessary to benefit from the advent of artificial intelligence. This chapter makes an effort to delve into the pros and cons of applying artificial intelligence in education through a qualitative research approach by doing a review of existing literature. 

Keywords: Adaptive learning, Artificial intelligence (AI), Automatic grading systems, Chatbot, COVID-19, Distance education, Education, Educational technology, Feedback, Information communication technology (ICT), Intelligent tutoring system (ITS), Learning, Learning management systems (LMS), Machine learning, Pandemic, Personalized learning, Special education, STEM, Virtual reality, Virtual teacher.