Harvard University, one of America’s most prestigious and expensive colleges, is planning to introduce an AI-powered teaching assistant to instruct students in its popular introductory coding course.
Professor David Malan, who oversees the course, explained that the use of AI in the syllabus aligns with the course’s history of incorporating new software. He stated that the introduction of a ChatGPT AI teacher is a natural progression in their teaching methods. The aim is to eventually provide students in the CS50 course with software-based tools that can support their learning individually, ensuring a 1:1 teacher-to-student ratio.
Professor Malan mentioned that they are currently experimenting with both GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models, as reported by Harvard’s newspaper, the Crimson. However, developers and software engineers outside the Ivy League have encountered difficulties integrating OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4 into their workflows.
Some have raised concerns about the algorithmic co-worker’s coding abilities, perceiving a decline in quality compared to earlier versions. The AI’s software skills have been described as inferior, exhibiting superficial responses and inadequate coding prompt answers.
Considering the significant cost of a four-year degree from Harvard, estimated at around $334,000 for the 2022-23 academic year, students who are paying for their education will likely expect the CS50 staff’s experimentation with ChatGPT to be thoroughly refined by September.
CS50 is highly regarded and widely accessed through Harvard’s online learning platform, edX, which was established in partnership with MIT in 2012. The universities sold edX to educational technology company 2U for $800 million in 2021, ensuring its operation as a public benefit entity that offers courses for free auditing.
Professor Malan acknowledged that early iterations of AI programs like ChatGPT may occasionally underperform, but expressed his confidence in the AI teaching assistant’s ability to streamline tasks and reduce the time spent on assessing students’ code. This, in turn, would allow teaching fellows to focus on more meaningful, interpersonal interactions with their students, resembling an apprenticeship model.
Reflecting on the purpose of education, Professor Malan emphasised the importance of critical thinking for students, urging them to exercise discernment when processing information, regardless of its source.
In summary, Harvard University intends to leverage AI technology by introducing a ChatGPT-powered teaching assistant in its CS50 course. While challenges have been encountered with the latest ChatGPT-4 model, Professor Malan and his team are committed to refining the AI’s performance.
The goal is to enhance the learning experience for students and enable teaching fellows to allocate their time more effectively, fostering meaningful interactions. This development aligns with Harvard’s commitment to providing quality education through its online learning platform, edX, which remains accessible to a wide audience.
