Some UAE schools block AI-powered chatbots including ChatGPT
Schools raise concerns about AI’s impact on student skills and academic integrity
Abu Dhabi: Several public and private schools across the UAE have implemented measures to block access to ChatGPT.
This action, aimed at preserving academic integrity, seeks to encourage students to engage in independent thinking, foster healthy competition, and prevent the misuse of AI tools in homework and assessments.
As AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT become more pervasive, educators are concerned that students’ over-dependence on technology could hinder the development of crucial skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.
Genuine learning
The decision to restrict AI tools like ChatGPT has been adopted by school administrations to promote a more genuine learning environment.
With these new regulations, schools are ensuring that students complete their assignments and evaluations without digital shortcuts. Educational experts argue that while AI has potential benefits, its overuse in academic settings could distort assessments, mislead students, and ultimately diminish their ability to think for themselves.
Awareness
In response, institutions have ramped up efforts to raise awareness among students. Workshops have been held to educate middle and high school students on the risks of relying on AI-powered chatbots for academic tasks. Teachers are now focusing on oral exams, independent research projects, and written assessments, all designed to test students’ true abilities without the aid of external tools.
Expert insights
Ibrahim Baraka, Principal of Al-Shu’la Private School in Sharjah, expressed concern about the implications of AI tools on students’ learning. “ChatGPT does not truly understand the topics it covers. Instead, it regurgitates content, leading students to falsely believe that it provides reliable knowledge,” Baraka stated.
“It’s a tool that can easily mislead with inaccurate or incomplete information. Relying on it for assignments is problematic, as it undermines academic integrity,” he noted.
Baraka went on to describe how students are increasingly turning to ChatGPT for everything from solving math equations to composing essays, raising alarms about the future of education.
“The use of AI-generated responses is often obvious, as these answers lack the natural errors typical of students,” he said.
Long-term consequences
The growing dependence on AI tools like ChatGPT has also been criticised for undermining students’ essential skills. Ibrahim Al-Thahli, a media personality and activist, warned that excessive reliance on AI reduces students’ capacity to innovate and solve problems independently, skills crucial for success in life and the workplace.
Adel Al-Rashed, a journalist and member of the UAE Journalists Association, echoed this concern, stressing the potential for academic dishonesty. “When students use ChatGPT to complete assignments without engaging with the material, they miss out on critical learning opportunities that build essential skills,” Al-Rashed explained.
Over-reliance
Legal expert Fatima Al-Niyadi also cautioned that over-reliance on AI could erode students’ critical thinking abilities. “The education system’s goal should be to teach students how to think, not just to extract information from AI-generated sources without analysing it,” she emphasised.
School policies
Weekly Assessments: Schools will conduct regular evaluations using traditional, non-digital methods to ensure assessments are completed independently.
AI Awareness Workshops: Schools will continue offering workshops to educate students about the potential risks of over-dependence on AI for academic tasks.
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