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ASK THE EXPERT “It’s no longer a niche” Richard Clutterbuck explains why the adoption of AI tech within schools shouldn’t be seen as a threat, but as an opportunity to change things for the better EXPERT PROFILE NAME: Richard Clutterbuck JOB TITLE: Head of Strategic Relations at Bromcom AREA OF EXPERTISE: Leadership, teaching and learning pedagogy, curriculum design and AI BEST PART OF MY JOB: Working with schools and MATs to help them use Bromcom to get better outcomes for their young people What’s your response to those who argue that AI technology is just a passing fad? We’re always seeing new technologies fail to live up to their hype, so it’s understandable some people see the obsession with AI as a passing fad. But AI is already having a dramatic impact across industries – whether it’s streaming platforms recommending TV shows based on what you like to watch, or automation of admin tasks. AI isn’t just a new solution; it’s fundamentally a new way of working with computers. Should schools be worried about the possibility of AI systems acting in biased or unfair ways? It’s true that AI can make biased decisions. If an AI model is designed to mimic the decisions of biased humans, then it will reflect those biases in the decisions it makes. Choosing systems that are carefully designed and vetted, inputting high quality data and incorporating human intervention can minimise unfair bias. What would you say to schools concerned about the prospect of sensitive data being shared with AI models? Since AI depends on our data to deliver its responses and learn over time, it’s understandable that teachers and staff are concerned about how secure their sensitive data is when working with AI. Thankfully, there are plenty of regulations requiring companies to use data in a responsible manner, such as GDPR. At Bromcom, we take the matter of protecting your data very seriously. If, for example, you run any queries on your MIS data, that data will be kept confidential and secure within the Bromcom cloud network. Won’t it just be larger schools and MATs that can actually afford AI? AI is no longer an expensive, niche technology reserved only for those companies with the funds to invest in it. There’s a huge range of AI tools available at a range of prices – including free ones, like ChatGPT! As AI models have become more commoditised and better optimised, they’ve also become cheaper and more effective. Plenty of educators now use technologies like Bromcom AI daily, to save themselves time and then dedicate more of that time to their students. Should anyone currently working in a school be worried about AI taking their job? Many people assume that AI will mainly be used by companies as a cheap replacement for human workers. While it’s true that AI can carry out some activities – like data entry and sorting tasks – more quickly and cheaply than humans, most jobs entail cognitive tasks that humans are better at. Like all technological breakthroughs, AI may unfortunately make some jobs redundant, but it should also allow industries to flourish and unlock new employment opportunities. What this means for education, we don’t yet know. ASK ME ABOUT BROMCOM’S AI IN EDUCATION WEBINARS – How the webinar series we’re hosting can help you discover how AI can transform your school and implement AI tools with confidence BROMCOM MIS – How our fully featured, cloud-based MIS can benefit your establishment and why 4000+ schools have chosen to switch to Bromcom BROMCOM AI – How our advanced AI functionality can have a positive impact on your workflow and school life through intelligent data analytics, predictive analytics, automated reporting and streamlined communication – find out more at bromcom.com 40 | www.teachwire.net PARTNER CONT ENT