It is true to say that AI has a significant impact on various aspects of our lives. Its impact on how we live, work, and especially learn is huge. In the context of education, AI presents promising opportunities to enhance learning experiences. However, the ethical implications of AI cannot be overlooked. According to Statista (2023), the majority of global ChatGPT users fall within the age range of 18 to 34 (Gen Z), making up 62.52% of its total user base. Given that Gen Z has become the main user demographic for this AI tool, it is critical now to understand their concerns as well as expectations when it comes to the ethical use of AI, especially in the context of education.
This blog post discusses three questions related to the ethical concerns of using AI in education, aiming to gather insights from Gen Z individuals in the UK and the US.
Question 1: On a scale from 1 (not at all concerned) to 5 (extremely concerned), how concerned are you about the ethical use of AI tools in your current or future educational experiences?
The first question delves into how much Gen Z actually worries about the ethical use of AI tools in their education, be it right now or in the future. The findings reveal that in both the UK and the US, a substantial number of respondents expressed varying degrees of concern.
| Level of Concern | UK (%) | US (%) |
| Not at all concerned | 11 | 13 |
| Slightly concerned | 22 | 19 |
| Somewhat concerned | 38 | 36 |
| Very concerned | 18 | 20 |
| Extremely concerned | 10 | 12 |
The data reveals that most respondents from both regions (56% in the UK and 68% in the US) fall into the “somewhat concerned” to “very concerned” categories. These figures indicate that Gen Z recognises the importance of ethical factors when it comes to AI in education.
Question 2: On a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), to what extent do you agree with the following statement: The ethical practices of the provider of an AI tool significantly influence my willingness to use that tool for educational purposes.
The second question examines how the ethical practices of AI tool providers influence Gen Z’s willingness to use these tools for educational purposes.
| Level of Agreement | UK (%) | US (%) |
| Strongly disagree | 6 | 7 |
| Somewhat disagree | 12 | 11 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 46 | 41 |
| Somewhat agree | 26 | 26 |
| Strongly agree | 10 | 15 |
Interestingly, about half of the respondents in both the UK and the US (56% and 56.5%, respectively) remained neutral, indicating that the willingness to adopt AI tools for educational purposes is moderately affected by ethical considerations. However, a significant number still believe that ethical considerations influence their decisions, with 36% (UK) and 41% (US) expressing agreement to some extent.
Question 3: On a scale from 1 (not important at all) to 5 (extremely important), how important do you believe it is for educational institutions to provide training on ethical use of AI tools as part of their curricula?
The final question explores how important it is to teach about the ethical use of AI tools in education.
| Level of Importance | UK (%) | US (%) |
| Not important at all | 7 | 6 |
| Slightly important | 18 | 16 |
| Moderately important | 33 | 33 |
| Very important | 26 | 27 |
| Extremely important | 16 | 18 |
According to the data, Gen Z respondents believe educational institutions should provide training on the ethical use of AI tools. Over half of the respondents in both the UK and the US (52% and 45%, respectively) ranked this training as “very important” or “extremely important.”
To address the ethical concerns surrounding AI in education effectively, educational institutions must take a proactive approach in integrating ethics training into their curricula. Ethics training can encompass a wide range of topics, including understanding AI bias, data privacy, and the responsible use of AI technologies (Figure 1). By engaging students in discussions about real-world AI case studies, educators can foster critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills.
The insights from the survey highlight the pressing need for educational institutions and AI tool providers to address ethical concerns. Some respondents are unsure about how ethics affect the use of AI tools, but many recognise that ethical considerations are important. In addition, AI tool providers should prioritise ethical guidelines to gain the trust of Gen Z. The survey shows that ethical concerns influence users’ decisions, so it is crucial for providers to demonstrate and communicate their commitment to ethical principles.
Image credit: Canva
References:
Siau, Keng & Wang, Weiyu. (2020). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics: Ethics of AI and Ethical AI. Journal of Database Management. 31. 74-87. 10.4018/JDM.2020040105.
Statista (2023) Global user demographics of ChatGPT in 2023, by age and gender. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1384324/chat-gpt-demographic-usage/