A recent study by OpenAI, a top company in generative AI, highlighted a key concern for Indian policymakers. Unlike other countries, they see the use of Artificial Intelligence in education as a major issue. The study looked at how people in five nations, including India, the U.S., U.K., Japan, and Taiwan, view AI risks. It was carried out between September and December 2023. 

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OpenAI's findings suggest that while globally, education risks were considered less threatening, in India, they ranked fifth among priority concerns, surpassing geopolitical risks or issues related to AI alignment. This unique perspective in India underscores a perceived vulnerability in the educational sector to AI's potential negative impacts. However, the study does not delve into why Indian policymakers view AI in education with such heightened concern.

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The study, which was not made public but was exclusively obtained by The Hindu, examined four main categories: the benefits and risks associated with AI, the speed of AI development, the advent of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and strategies for AI risk management. It particularly noted the risks of AI misuse or malicious use and economic risks like job displacement due to automation as predominant concerns. Conversely, AI’s potential in advancing research and health was seen as highly beneficial across all surveyed countries.

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Despite these findings, several Indian experts have contested OpenAI’s conclusions. Advitiya Sharma, the Chief Growth Officer at Schoolnet, a leading EdTech company, shared his thoughts on AI in education. He said the concerns in India are overstated because people do not fully understand the technology. He highlighted that AI brings many benefits, like personalized learning and better engagement, which far outweigh the risks.

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Echoing similar sentiments, Krishnan Narayanan from IIT Madras’ Centre for Responsible AI pointed out the potential of AI to stimulate critical thinking if used correctly. He suggested that AI systems should be designed to encourage students to think and reason rather than simply providing answers, to mitigate the risk of diminishing students' original thought processes.

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Amar Patnaik, a former Rajya Sabha MP and tech policy expert, views AI as an opportunity, not a threat. He believes AI can boost student engagement and requires a fresh look at educational curricula to include technology-based learning. Patnaik also pointed out that AI can make education more accessible. It can provide high-quality resources even to students in underprivileged areas.

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However, there are acknowledged challenges. The reliance on AI might lead to a decline in critical reasoning if not managed properly. There's also the concern of AI tools producing misleading or incorrect information. Furthermore, the potential for AI to be used in assessments rather than evaluating student capabilities directly poses another educational dilemma.

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The discussion about AI in education also includes concerns like data privacy, bias in AI algorithms, and the need for proper regulations to ensure ethical use. Patnaik emphasized the need to include informal data sources in AI systems. This would help represent India's diverse socio-economic background and stop AI from reinforcing existing biases.

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The study's focus on education risks has sparked debate, with some like Krishnan expressing surprise over the lack of emphasis on other critical AI applications like military use or environmental impact. This suggests a broader conversation is needed on how AI should be integrated across various sectors.

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To sum up, although OpenAI's research identifies education as a significant risk domain for AI in India, experts agree that with careful execution, AI has the potential to transform education, enhancing inclusivity and personalizing it to meet individual learning requirements. Nonetheless, this will necessitate thoughtful policy development, educating about AI's capabilities, and creating strong ethical frameworks to fully leverage AI's advantages while reducing its dangers.

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