Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great potential for the Saudi Arabian education sector, but what are currently perceived as risks need to be transformed into opportunities through consistent policy implementation, according to an Emcan report that explores the possibilities as well as the challenges that need to be addressed.
The ethical use of AI in education is a topic of debate among education and government leaders around the world. The popularity and accessibility of tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can lead to issues such as overreliance, plagiarism, and a lack of critical thinking skills among students.
Previous research has shown that the best way to avoid problems with AI is to educate students about it and show them how to use it appropriately. Teachers play a key role in this process and can help students make informed decisions, but firm policies and guidelines from the top are also essential.
“The education sector is constantly evolving and the integration of AI is an indicator of its transformative potential. As we navigate the complex challenges of preparing today's learners for the challenges of the future, AI has emerged promising innovative solutions to enhance K-12 education,” said Basma Bushnak, CEO of Emkan.
Saudi Arabia has an agency dedicated to researching and regulating AI, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), which has helped advance various applications of AI across industries.
AI in the education sector has many positive potential. Among the many use cases of AI in education are creating intelligent tutoring systems and providing individualized guidance to students. The main focus of educational AI tools is to provide students with an individually tailored learning experience.
Other interesting and unique use cases include AI tools that allow students to interview historical figures and language acquisition models that help students learn languages.
Meanwhile, of course, educational institutions around the world have been careful to limit or outright ban the use of AI that constitutes cheating or plagiarism. Some universities have implemented zero-tolerance policies in writing courses, while others are teaching students to leverage AI tools in content creation and technical communication.
Overcoming challenges
“As we embark on our journey to the forefront of AI-driven education, we must simultaneously navigate challenges, ethical considerations and the need to ensure meaningful access for all, especially considering the context of local education in Saudi Arabia,” Buschnack said.
Many universities (including Russell Group schools in the UK) have put in place strict guidelines that define the ethical use of AI in academic environments and also explain how teachers should approach imparting AI literacy.
The Saudi Arabian education system has many international examples to draw on when developing its AI strategy, and Emkan's survey of Saudi students and school principals found that Saudi educational institutions would greatly benefit from clearer AI guidelines.
The majority of respondents reported little awareness of policies regarding AI in education. The majority of students are unaware of their school's AI-related policies, which means that even if they are allowed to use the tools, they are unsure how to use them legally.
Nearly half of the educators surveyed said they are interested in establishing an AI policy as they want to streamline the adoption of these new innovative tools. Similarly, more than half of school principals want to implement policies that are aligned with international standards.
Emkan's report suggests that Saudi Arabia's education AI policy should focus on fostering AI literacy, hands-on AI experience for students, professional development for teachers, and further policy formulation and implementation.
“A proactive and collaborative approach is essential as Saudi Arabia embarks on its AI-driven education journey,” Bushnack said.
The use of AI in Middle Eastern schools has already been controversial, especially in the context of a relative lack of guidelines: A report last year, for example, showed that many students and workers in the UAE were using AI without the knowledge (or permission) of their employers or teachers.
