CWU Conference Motion 7 Highlights Threat Of AI On Children's Education

Once again,a Greater Mersey Amal Branch delegate, Thomas Kirkwood-Sweet, spoke from the rostrum to move a pertinent motion on a subject giving everyone with Children; serious concers.

 

This time AI as it affects children's education was the subject of this policy making motion, the terms of which can be read in the image below, along with the moving delegate's speech:

 

"Chair, Conference, Thomas Kirkwood-Sweet, Mersey Amal, to move motion 7. Look, much has already been said about artificial intelligence and its potential impacts on society. But the unique threat that it does pose to the education sector, to children, young adults going through their education and having their potential futures completely dictated by algorithms which, as quite well put by the Comrade from UTAW earlier.

It's all smoke and mirrors. The idea that these are hyper-advanced systems that can do things that we can't imagine yet, it's just buzzwords and nonsense from marketing departments. And also the implementation of this in adult health and social care is a disaster waiting to happen.

We need to prevent this and ensure that proper safeguards are put in place to prevent the most vulnerable and susceptible to harm in our society from coming to it whilst we still have a chance to prevent it. Thank you"

 

 

 

Alan Tate for the NEC was the mext and final speaker, providing full support for the motion:

 

"Alan Tate on behalf of the NEC. to support the motion. AI is rapidly transforming various sectors and education is no exception.

AI-powered tools are being integrated in the classrooms, promising personalised learning experiences, automated grading and enhanced accessibility. However, this technology advancement isn't without its downsides. The uncritical adoption of AI tools by students carries potential pitfalls that could hinder the intellectual growth and academic achievements.

While AI offers efficiency and convenience, its overuse can lead to a decline in fundamental skills and an over-reliance in technology. Understanding these nuances is crucial for educators, parents and students alike to navigate within the AI landscape.

One of the most concerning aspects of AI's impact on students is the erosion of critical thinking skills. When students rely on AI to generate answers, write essays or solve problems, they bypass the crucial process of analysing information, evaluating arguments, formulating their own conclusions. The dependence stifles their ability to think independently and make informed decisions.

Trade unions around the globe are already responding with examples cited in the ITUC report that included collective agreements in Europe with the likes of Just Eat and Sectoral Standards from the Federation of Trade Unions. The report also highlights key developments in AI regulation while calling for stronger enforcement of labour and anti-discrimination laws and union rights in the digital area."

 

"There is a campaign around AI awareness and making AI work for workers, which can be found on the CW website. It's at cw.org. And I'd encourage all branches to visit that if you haven't already done so. And I will quote from that, if I may, Chair. It states, artificial intelligence...

and digital systems are already shaping jobs in telecoms and financial services, from contract centres to field operations. There are over 50+ systems identified, with more to come in the future. AI has the potential to alter job security, pay and working conditions. We know that these systems are already having an impact on our members' roles through intensification of work and surveillance and monitoring increases.

The systems are also causing our members to lose their autonomy at work and causing stress as they are increasingly required to please the machine. Without CW intervention, these technologies will be designed and deployed solely with the interest of employers and we must ensure workers' voices is a key element of that advancement of new technologies.

As artificial intelligence continues to integrate into various sectors, its application in education is both celebrated and scrutinized. While AI holds significant potential to transform learning experiences, it also presents several disadvantages that need careful consideration that must be addressed.

 

It also presents several disadvantages that need careful consideration that must be addressed and ensure a balanced and effective learning environment. Another major concern is the growing dependence on technology that AI in education fosters. As educational institutions increasingly rely on AI-driven tools for teaching, assessments and administrative tasks, there is a risk of becoming overly dependent on these technologies. This dependence can lead to a significant disruption in the event of technical failures or cyber attacks. Furthermore, it may also diminish the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students as they become accustomed to AI systems providing answers and solutions.

 

The UK Government is actively working to ensure AI growth is safe and beneficial for both public and workforce. This includes implementing a pro-innovation approach to AI regulation, which focuses on existing laws and principles such as safety and transparency. There are, however, still concerns about the potential risks and benefits of AI, including security, privacy and labour rights.

 

The UK Government is considering additional legislation to address these concerns, such as mandatory impact assessments and for human intervention to challenge AI decision-making.

 

Employers are also taking proactive steps to manage the legal and compliance risks associated with AI in a workplace. This includes ensuring transparency over AI decision logic, providing explainability or outputs and ensuring appropriate data security measures are in place.

 

The UK Government AI Opportunities Action Plan aims to shape the application of AI within a modern social market economy, ensuring that AI development is fair and effective. This plan includes support for the AI sector, skills, training and the technology transformation of public services. Overall, the Government is committed to ensuring that AI growth is safe and beneficial for the public and workers with focus on ethical and responsible use of AI technologies. I would encourage conference to overwhelmingly support this motion."

 

The motion was CARRIED

 

Source: CWU