AI May Produce Machine-Dependent Graduates – Ex-UniAbuja VC

Professor Micheal Adikwu is the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University. In this interview with HENRY TYOHEMBA, he warned that excessive reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) could produce machine-dependent graduates.

How is Artificial Intelligence changing teaching, learning and research in Nigerian universities?

I personally believe that Artificial Intelligence is one of the happenings of the last days according to my Christian principles. A week ago or so, the Americans were saying that the name Artificial Intelligence should be changed to Special Intelligence. Whatever that means, is not the matter for this discussion. Artificial Intelligence has many positive sides as well as negative sides. Let me, however, go by your ideas and numbering. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning is great. There are certain ideas that can easily be sourced from various Internet sources using Artificial Intelligence. It can be used in research and various aspects of teaching and learning. Let me say quickly here that humans like whatever is cheap and easily. Thus, the use of AI may lead to degenerative thinking among students. In order words, instead of using their brain, they would prefer to use AI and other aspects of Disruptive Technology such as ChatGTP, which is even a simpler form of AI. Due to the problem of imputed laziness to students, many overseas countries are banning the use of AI in classrooms. These days, many institutions use some tools to crosscheck if much of a project or dissertation or thesis is copied from the net. These tools are called plagiarism checkers. In a world where governments struggle to ensure that their citizens get jobs, some people are even thinking of robots using AI to take over teaching and other jobs from humans!

What policies or guidelines should the National Universities Commission (NUC) introduce to ensure responsible AI use in universities?

Your second question has already been addressed in the answer to first question. There should be serious control of the use of AI introduced by the National Universities Commission (NUC). One of the major problems with Developing Countries like Nigeria is that they like consuming developments in all forms of technology but they are not initiators. People in the Advanced Countries are already warning that AI has very strong negative impact on humans to the extent that it is possible of wiping humans off from the surface of the earth. We must, therefore, tread with caution in its use and Government Agencies such as NUC should take the lead in cautioning its use in our institutions of higher learning.

What practical steps should university managements take to balance the benefits of AI with the need to protect academic integrity?

Let me say again that all your questions are related. The university authorities must follow the pattern and directives of the National Universities Commission (NUC). Excessive use of AI both in teaching and learning will produce graduates who are machine dependent. Albert Einstein is referred to as saying, “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” We are in those days. Students these days go about with phones instead of books. If such students have systems that will make them not to use their brains but get all their information from the Internet using AI sources, they will be very glad. Thus, the authorities in our universities must be up and doing to check the use of AI through issuing regulations and guidelines for its use.