The Rollercoaster of AI Textbooks in South Korea: Lessons Learned
South Korea’s ambitious rollout of AI-powered textbooks has turned into a cautionary tale. Initially heralded as a revolutionary initiative, the program faced backlash from students, teachers, and parents alike, illustrating the complexities of integrating AI in education.
- Disillusionment: High school junior Ko Ho-dam reported delays and usability issues, leading to frustrations in adapting to a new learning format.
- Criticism: Complaints emerged about factual inaccuracies, increased screen time, and greater workloads, prompting the government to downgrade the textbooks to “supplementary material” after just four months.
- Financial Impact: The program, backed by a significant investment of over $850 million, saw a drastic drop in adoption rates from 37% to 19% in a single semester.
Experts emphasize the need for a cautious and gradual approach to AI education, advocating for pilot programs before widespread implementation.
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