Can AI Tutors Help Kids Learn? Khan Academy Thinks So
Sep 14, 2023
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Sal Khan, Founder and CEO of Khan Academy, discusses the benefits and challenges of using AI tutors in education. They explore the development of Khan Academy's AI tutor, Khanmigo, and its effectiveness in teaching math. They also discuss the role of teachers and AI in education, as well as the scaling goals of Khan Academy.
Khan Academy has developed an AI tutor called Khanmigo built on GPT-4 to provide one-on-one tutoring and support to students, aiming to enhance learning experiences and help educators with their work.
To address potential risks and concerns, Khan Academy has implemented safeguards like recording sessions, moderating conversations, and preventing cheating, while ensuring responsible and secure learning environments.
Deep dives
Khan Academy's Journey and the Power of Tutoring
Khan Academy, founded in 2008, has become a popular platform for educational videos, practice questions, and software that monitors students' progress. The main goal of Khan Academy has always been to provide the benefits of one-on-one tutoring to a larger audience through technology. However, with previous AI models, they were unable to fully deliver on this idea. But, with the development of GPT-4 and the introduction of Khan Migo, an AI tutor built on top of GPT-4, Khan Academy believes they may have finally found a solution. They have been testing and refining Conmigo, and it has shown promising results, surpassing previous models in its ability to provide explanations and support to students. This AI tutor has the potential to enhance learning experiences, answer student questions, and develop insights about individual learners. The initial feedback from students and educators has been positive, and the demand for Conmigo is growing rapidly.
Building Safeguards and Enhancements into Conmigo
Khan Academy acknowledges the potential risks and concerns associated with AI tutoring. To address these, they have implemented several safeguards and enhancements. All sessions with students under 18 are recorded and accessible by parents or teachers, and a second AI moderates conversations to detect any inappropriate or shady interactions. To prevent cheating, Conmigo doesn't simply give answers, but engages in a collaborative problem-solving process with students. Additionally, no personally identifiable information is exchanged between the student and the AI, and more safeguards are in place to ensure a responsible and secure learning environment.
The Evolution of Conmigo and its Future Potential
Conmigo is currently designed to provide targeted support and explanations to students who need additional assistance beyond existing resources on Khan Academy. While it is not meant to replace traditional teaching methods, Conmigo aims to augment and enhance the learning experience. In the next year, improvements such as memory of previous conversations and better voice interactions are expected. In the next five years, Khan Academy envisions Conmigo being able to generate real-time videos, provide personalized feedback and guidance, and integrate with other learning platforms. Despite these advancements, Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, believes that teachers and human-led instruction will continue to play a crucial role in education.
Challenges and Lessons Learned Along the Way
Building Khan Academy from a one-person operation to a global educational platform has come with its challenges. As the organization scaled, it faced growing pains and dilemmas related to prioritizing focus and achieving alignment. The ambitious mission of delivering free world-class education to all has often pushed the team in different directions. However, Sal Khan remains dedicated to constantly innovating and ensuring Khan Academy stays true to its mission, even as AI technology evolves. The goal is to create an AI-driven education system that remains innovative, aligned with teacher collaboration, and serves the needs of learners around the world.
Sal Khan is the founder and CEO of Khan Academy. Sal’s problem is this: How do you design an AI that can give students the kind of benefits they’d get from working with a human tutor?
Earlier this year, Khan Academy launched Khanmigo, an AI tutor built on top of GPT4. The idea is to use AI to give more kids access to one-on-one tutoring, and help human teachers with their work as well.