Why Equity Must Be a Core Part of the Conversation About AI
- By Daysha Jackson Sanchez
- 08/06/24
AI has been on a rapid rise, turning the education industry on its head as students, instructors, institutions, and providers come to terms with the opportunities and challenges the technology presents. AI is an immensely powerful tool that can provide customized support for students with diverse learning needs, tailoring educational experiences to meet students' individual needs more effectively. However, significant disparities in AI access and digital literacy skills prevent many of these same students from fully leveraging its benefits.
Potential Benefits of AI for Marginalized Students
AI has the potential to be an incredibly beneficial resource for marginalized student groups and those with specific learning needs. AI-driven educational platforms can adapt to the pace and style of individual learners, offering interactive and multimodal learning experiences that cater to different sensory inputs, such as visual and auditory cues. For instance, AI can assist neurodivergent individuals by reading text aloud to help with reading challenges. It can also convert spoken words into written text, allowing students to dictate their responses.
AI can assist with handwriting difficulties using predictive text and grammar correction, making it easier for students to communicate ideas. For students with ADHD, AI-driven planners and reminders can help manage tasks and deadlines, and interactive learning experiences can make lessons more engaging and help maintain attention.
Furthermore, AI can support other marginalized student groups, such as those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, first-generation students, and diverse racial and ethnic groups. AI can provide additional tutoring and personalized learning pathways that help bridge educational gaps caused by varying levels of prior educational access. For students juggling multiple responsibilities, such as work and parenting, AI offers flexible learning schedules and resources that can be accessed anytime, making it easier to balance education with other tasks. Additionally, AI's ability to customize learning experiences to match an individual's pace and prior knowledge can enhance the overall learning process.
Challenges to Achieving AI Equity
Though AI has several potential benefits, there are significant hurdles to making AI learning solutions genuinely equitable for all learners. Given AI's rapid development and adoption in recent years, discussions around whether AI is being developed and implemented equitably have often come as an afterthought. Achieving AI equity is necessary to reap the full benefits of this burgeoning technology.
Access to AI tools is the first major roadblock, with disparities in technology and internet access across different demographic groups. According to a Pew Research Center study, approximately 25% of adults with annual household incomes below $30,000 do not own a smartphone, and over 40% lack home broadband services. Furthermore, research from the University of Florida found that one in eight college students who live off campus lack consistent broadband access. Disparities vary significantly along racial and geographic lines, with access lowest among Navajo students and students living in rural states. These statistics highlight the digital divide that limits access to AI tools for many. Some individuals will be unable to utilize AI tools at all, while others may have varying levels of comfort and proficiency with the technology.