New Perspectives in Science Education

This study examines learners’ insights into how Higher Education can make a big step forward so as to train students not only for the demands of the labour market of the 21st century, but also for the societal challenges that young graduates face in the light of the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence. Fifty students from different European universities commented on the use of Artificial Intelligence, expressing their views about AI literacy level in universities, its ethical use and, at the same time, recommending caution due to the lack of awareness of the dangers that this technology poses. The brainstorming technique1 was used to generate ideas and extend students’ answers. Five groups of ten students were interviewed and the facilitator guided them towards developing a flow of ideas around the theme of Artificial Intelligence and its use for educational purposes. The findings of the study are in line with the latest research on the topic, with students highlighting the difference between ethical and unethical AI use and the need for proper training in order to gain and develop AI literacy2, nonetheless emphasising the threats that may arise if this technology is not used properly[1] and the risks generated by the imperfect and hasty educational strategies[2]. This study can facilitate the understanding of how the rapidly-changing educational environment challenged by technology imprints its repercussions onto the new generation of graduates.