The Cambridge Handbook addresses AI from various perspectives, including ethics, legislation and sectoral applications such as media, healthcare and education. The goal is to provide an extensive analysis of the impact of AI on society and the associated responsibilities. An important point of attention is therefore how AI should be regulated.
New handbook and guidelines for AI
Earlier this year, The Cambridge Handbook of the Law Ethics and Policy of Artificial Intelligence was published. The book provides an extensive overview of the legal, ethical and policy aspects of artificial intelligence (AI). Three NOLAI colleagues contributed to the book; they wrote a chapter that is dedicated to AI in education. “AI in education should be a tool that supplements human capabilities, not replaces them.”
Augmentation perspective
Chapter 13 in the handbook was written by Inge Molenaar (NOLAI’s director), Duuk Baten (SURF), Imre Bárd (former NOLAI researcher) and Marthe Stevens (leader of the Ethics focus area at NOLAI). The chapter, titled “Artificial Intelligence and Education: Different Perceptions and Ethical Directions”, focuses on the integration of AI in education. It emphasises the importance of an augmentation perspective: AI should be used to support (human) teachers and students, rather than completely replacing teachers.
Ethical considerations
The authors emphasise the importance of a responsible and ethical approach to the implementation of AI in education, with attention to the impact on all those involved. It is essential in the use of AI in education to look with an ethical perspective to aspects such as privacy, transparency and the role of teachers in an AI-supported educational landscape. NOLAI, which is based on the principle of “embedded ethics”, is cited as an example of an approach to encourage responsible use of AI in education.
European guidelines
The ‘Ethical Guidelines on the use of AI and data in teaching and learning for educators’ are discussed in the chapter. These guidelines were drafted by a team of experts in AI in education on behalf of the European Commission. They are intended to support education professionals in the responsible and ethical use of AI in education. The Guidelines provide practical advice for teachers in primary and secondary education. NOLAI director Inge Molenaar was a member of the Expert Group at the time and co-authored the guidelines.
Update EU Guidelines
Currently, a group of experts selected by the European Commission is working on an update to the existing guidelines. Inge Molenaar is again involved in this. In this new version, which will be launched in autumn, the guidelines have been completely revised and there is also more focus on generative AI. Inge Molenaar: “AI in education has undergone radical changes since the publication of the guidelines in 2022, which were written before the introduction of generative AI.”
Nuanced perspective
The publication of The Cambridge Handbook of Law, Ethics and Policy of Artificial Intelligence is an important reference work for everyone working on the responsible use of AI, particularly in education. “Our aim with this chapter is to provide a nuanced perspective on the role of AI within education, in which human values remain central,” says Inge Molenaar. “It is extremely valuable that there is now a handbook that examines the role of AI in education from an ethical perspective. This helps researchers, policymakers and teachers to better understand AI and apply it responsibly.”
Contact information
- Organizational unit
- National Education Lab AI (NOLAI)
- About person
- Prof. I. Molenaar (Inge)
- Theme
- Artificial intelligence (AI)