A science fiction fan and author of books on robots and the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Martha Gabriel spoke to a packed auditorium at the end of the second day of Bett Brasil about the impacts of AI on education. The speaker joked that there are basically two cinematic “camps” on this issue: those on the side of *The Terminator* and those who believe in *The Bicentennial Man*.

The bad—or perhaps not-so-bad—news in this case is that both sides are wrong. Martha assured us that science is still a long way from that stage of AI development, known as superintelligence. And she emphasized that it is unlikely that, when we get there, advanced robots or androids will want to destroy humanity: “They’ll find us insignificant,” she warned.

In the expert’s opinion, education needs new rules and standards to measure the new reality (which she claims is “a collective lie”). Only then can skills be expanded by leveraging what technology can do. And she declared: “An average person empowered by technology becomes better than the greatest human expert working without technology.”

An enthusiast of technological tools, Martha Gabriel—who, with great humor, shared a wealth of information on the subject—stated that it is very important for us to be prepared for the arrival of “Society 5.0”—a Japanese concept that envisions a fundamentally technological society, but one in which technology is centered on people. And she warns: “To stay relevant, you have to do what technology doesn’t do.”

A teacher will always be irreplaceable

On Tuesday, the 9th, a special panel organized by Microsoft, a global partner of Bett, brought together experts to discuss the topic and the various ways in which artificial intelligence can be integrated into the school curriculum. During the event, the panelists also made it clear that teachers will not be replaced by machines.

“Teachers have the role of educating students to think critically, analyze, make comparisons, and use activities that blend traditional teaching with technology. The use of artificial intelligence should be an integral part of teaching,” said Silvia Scuracchio, educational director and head of innovation at Escola Bosque.

Vera Cabral, a Microsoft executive and the panel moderator, was unequivocal: “Artificial Intelligence is disruptive; it no longer allows things to be done the way they used to be. We must transform. We shouldn’t be afraid; we must transform. Technology is not the enemy—it’s an ally.”

During the panel discussion “ChatGPT and OpenAI—The Transformation of Education Is Now Inevitable,” Silvia Scuracchio shared some success stories from her school regarding the use of technology—including AI on various platforms such as advanced reading programs, speech coaches, reading fluency tools, image generators, and more.

“We have several solutions that make learning more seamless—for example, Speaker Coach, an artificial intelligence program that evaluates intonation, rhythm, clarity, and word difficulty, directly contributing to the improvement of writing and public speaking. Just as technology makes our daily lives easier, it can also make teaching easier,” noted the director of Escola Bosque.

Article originally published on the Educador21 website.

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