Together with the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) and Campaña Latinoamericana por el Derecho a la Educación (CLADE), we have submitted a joint contribution to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education. This submission aims to contribute to her study on the human rights-based use of artificial intelligence in education.
The submission, drafted in Spanish, addresses question 9 concerning the challenges of implementing AI in education. Additionally, it offers insights relevant to questions 2d, 2e, 3, and 4. While not exhaustive, our submission aims to highlight critical challenges observed across different regions.
Key highlights of the submission:
- The joint submission emphasises the need for a human rights-based approach to integrating artificial intelligence in educational settings. It underscores the importance of incorporating human rights and ethical considerations throughout developing and implementing AI technologies in education.
- One of the primary concerns raised in the submission is the commercialisation of education facilitated by the push by commercial private actors for the use of artificial intelligence in education. It warns against the potential erosion of education as a human right and public good. It cites examples of how AI technologies have empowered powerful private actors and exacerbated educational system inequalities.
- The submission also addresses the risks associated with amplifying inequalities within national education systems between privileged and underprivileged students and among different countries. It emphasises the need for regulatory measures to address these risks and ensure that AI technologies contribute to bridging educational gaps rather than widening them.
- Recommendations are provided for policymakers and stakeholders to effectively address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in education. These include developing and implementing robust regulatory frameworks, the promotion of transparency and accountability in the use of AI technologies, and the prioritisation of evidence-based policymaking.
Overall, the joint submission underscores the importance of adopting a human rights-based approach to integrating artificial intelligence into education. It calls for concerted efforts to address the challenges identified and ensure that AI technologies enhance, rather than undermine, the right to education for all.
For further details, you can read the joint submission here.