By 2030, Russia plans to implement a national artificial intelligence (AI) system to support schoolchildren and teachers. The project is currently in the development stage. This was announced by the Minister of Education, Sergey Kravtsov, at the Forum of Class Leaders.
According to him, the concept of the system will be developed in collaboration with other departments, including the Ministry of Digital Development and leading AI developers in the country. Kravtsov emphasized that AI will never replace teachers. He explained that traditional forms of education will remain in place, and information technology will be used as an auxiliary resource.
The Minister recalled the transition of schoolchildren to distance learning during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, noting that they returned to traditional learning at the first opportunity. According to him, AI is a powerful tool, but it needs to be used carefully.
The domestic AI system should help schoolchildren, but not for cheating on tests.
President Vladimir Putin earlier this year instructed the government to develop proposals for using AI for additional schooling for students. The Ministry of Education reported that they are working on creating a "modern and safe digital educational environment", ensuring equal access to quality education.
Vice-Rector for AI at RWB University, Armen Beklaryan, noted that the integration of technology into education is important, but it is necessary to avoid increasing the burden on teachers. He believes that AI can perform the functions of an assistant, which will help maintain a high level of training for schoolchildren, especially in primary grades.
The creation of a national AI system will require significant effort in the training and setup phase, says Sergey Karaev, Deputy Director for Quality of Education at the "New View" private school. He emphasized that the system must comply with educational standards, but it will not be possible to completely eliminate errors in the answers. Karaev also noted the importance of preparing teachers and students, as well as developing their critical thinking skills when working with an AI assistant.