Generative AI: Educational Divide and Challenges

The Impact of Generative AI on Higher Education

Generative artificial intelligence has disrupted many fields, and higher education is no exception to this transformation. Meriem El Bouhali, a researcher and lecturer at ESLSCA Paris Business School, is particularly interested in this technological revolution and its consequences on student inequalities. As part of her research, she conducted a qualitative survey among Bachelor and MBA students to understand how these tools influence academic paths.

El Bouhali's work is part of a series of studies on the adoption of new technologies, such as websites, social media, blockchain, and generative artificial intelligence. She seeks to answer a crucial question: does AI truly benefit all student profiles, or does it contribute to widening the gaps?

Three Student Profiles Facing AI

The study identifies three typical behaviors among students using generative AI. The first group, composed of the highest-performing students, uses AI to enrich their thinking without substituting it. These students systematically verify the results provided by AI and question the generated content. This approach allows them to develop greater intellectual agility.

In contrast, a second group, made up of less-performing students, develops an overconfidence in AI. This excessive dependence leads to a decrease in their critical thinking, making them unable to detect errors in the algorithm. Overconfidence or "overreliance" on AI thus becomes an illusory solution for these students.

Finally, a third profile stands out with competent students who choose not to delegate certain tasks to AI. This strategic choice aims to preserve their intellectual autonomy and avoid technological dependence. However, these students may be perceived as less efficient in a professional context where AI can perform certain tasks quickly. Meriem El Bouhali emphasizes that these students risk being disadvantaged for repetitive and time-consuming tasks, as they may be seen as less effective compared to those who use AI to save time.

The Professional Implications of Automation

The educational gaps created by AI extend beyond the academic realm and into the professional world. An employee unable to detect an error generated by AI could jeopardize a company's stability, particularly by producing erroneous financial statements. An overestimation of figures could lead to significant reputational risks, while an underestimation could limit access to funding.

Recruiters, aware of these issues, are tightening their controls to identify candidates who do not master the critical analysis of data provided by AI. This evolution is part of the regulatory framework of the European AI Act. More specifically, Article 4 of this act requires companies to ensure the AI literacy of their employees, meaning that workers must be able to understand and effectively use AI in their jobs.

The market is no longer just looking for graduates capable of using tools like ChatGPT, but for experts who can manage what AI cannot do. The human employee must now focus on analysis and ethical decision-making, leaving repetitive tasks to the machine. Instead of spending a lot of time calculating ratios, the emphasis is placed on analyzing the company's financial situation to make the best possible decisions.

Reforming the Educational Model to Integrate AI

In light of these challenges, banning AI in education is deemed counterproductive. ESLSCA has therefore created an AI Committee in 2024 to support the use of AI rather than prohibit it. Teachers play a crucial role in developing students' critical thinking. They must integrate AI throughout the curriculum, through specific modules on ethics and digital literacy.

Assessments must evolve to test students' ability to solve complex problems using AI intelligently. This shift raises questions about the very usefulness of certain traditional exercises, such as the research thesis. Artificial intelligence must now be woven into the entire curriculum to prepare students for the challenges of the professional world.

Bridging the Digital Divide

One of the major challenges remains the digital divide, which creates inequalities among students. Access to advanced versions of AI, often paid, is a source of academic exclusion. To address this, Meriem El Bouhali proposes making premium tools available in libraries.

The school has also established an academic integrity charter to raise students' awareness of ethical issues. Finally, the unequal technological capital of students necessitates proactive leveling, particularly between the North and South, often due to a lack of clear state strategies regarding AI integration.

By addressing these issues, higher education institutions seek to transform AI from a factor of inequality into a lever of competence for all students. This gap with countries that lack a clear and proactive strategy for AI integration is a crucial challenge for supporting students who experience this disparity.