Just months after ChatGPT wowed the world, AI's potential to revolutionize education seems to be hitting a snag. Enter Khanmigo, Khan Academy's AI tutor, struggling with a crucial hurdle – basic math. This raises questions about the viability of AI as a universal educational tool and its readiness to live up to Khan's bold prediction of an "amazing personal tutor" for every student.
Tom McCoy, a Yale AI expert, aptly likens asking ChatGPT to do math to expecting a goldfish to ride a bicycle. Large language models, the technology powering both ChatGPT and Khanmigo, excel in text-based tasks but struggle with numerical reasoning.
A Wall Street Journal investigation exposed Khanmigo's fallibility, revealing errors in basic arithmetic, rounding, and square roots. It even failed to correct its mistakes when prompted. While Khan Academy promises improvements, concerns linger about inherent limitations.
Khanmigo shines in other areas, offering essay feedback, character simulations, and contemporary issue debates. This versatility highlights the potential of AI in education, but the math problem remains a significant roadblock.
Despite limitations, Khanmigo is finding its way into classrooms, raising both excitement and caution. School districts seek solutions for pandemic learning loss, and AI's low-cost appeal is undeniable. However, the $35 per student price tag raises questions about accessibility and potential inequities.
Khanmigo is not alone. Several companies are vying for a slice of the AI tutoring market, all facing similar challenges in the math arena. While researchers predict improvements, the path forward may be riddled with hurdles.
Sal Khan, Khan Academy's founder, emphasizes that Khanmigo is "imperfect" and not a replacement for traditional teachers. This transparency is crucial, as educators navigate the delicate balance between harnessing the power of AI and ensuring learning quality.
Ina Rosenthal, a teacher using Khanmigo, finds value in its diverse applications. Khanmigo helps her plan lessons, sparks critical thinking through debates, and offers support to struggling students. This underscores the potential of AI as a versatile tool, though concerns about math accuracy persist.
hope. The road to an "amazing personal tutor" for every student is long and winding, with math representing a major obstacle. However, continuous innovation and responsible implementation could pave the way for AI to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of education.
