Pearson Introduces AI Chatbot to Support Students – Fagen wasanni
Fagen Wasanni Technologies
All about XXI Century Technologies
Fagen Wasanni Technologies
Pearson, one of the leading textbook makers worldwide, is venturing into the realm of AI by offering an AI chatbot as a study aid in its Pearson+ and Mastering subscription services. The company plans to launch this new AI study tool in time for the upcoming back-to-school season. The AI chatbot aims to provide personalized support and real-time assistance to students using Pearson’s textbooks and learning services.
During a shareholder presentation, Pearson’s CEO, Andy Bird, emphasized that the chatbot would not provide shortcuts to answers but would instead enhance the tutoring experience for individual students. The company also highlighted the application of AI in various other Pearson products, such as employment data analytics and software that detects cheating in certification tests.
Pearson is likely taking inspiration from its competitor, Chegg, which has noticed a decline in new study sign-ups due to the popularity of chatbots like ChatGPT. Chegg, in collaboration with OpenAI, developed its own AI bot called CheggMate. However, Pearson faced a setback in its stock price due to concerns that language models like ChatGPT could potentially include content from Pearson’s textbooks in their training data.
Despite these challenges, Pearson reported significant growth in its Pearson+ app, with a 200% increase in paid subscribers year over year. The app allows users to download eTextbooks and engage with other users. Pearson also offers the Mastering services, which provide online homework and testing resources to students and teachers.
While Pearson acknowledges the impact of AI on its business, it remains optimistic about growth due to its “proprietary IP and vast data sets.” However, the company, along with other leading textbook companies, has faced criticism for the rising cost of textbooks, making it difficult for students to afford them.
In addressing concerns about free access to online information, Pearson previously explored the idea of creating an NFT service for its textbooks, although this was met with skepticism and concerns about the secondhand textbook market.
Online learning platforms like Khan Academy have also implemented AI services to deliver personalized learning experiences, but there are concerns within academia about the potential for cheating and the reliability of AI chatbots. Critics argue that chatbots can provide inaccurate answers and generate nonsensical responses, even when trained with proprietary learning information. The limitations and challenges of AI in education are apparent, as AI models are not truly intelligent; they excel at predicting the next word in a sentence but can still produce unreliable results.
Pearson’s move towards incorporating AI chatbots is part of a larger trend in education, but the industry must navigate the potential pitfalls and ensure that AI technology serves as a reliable and effective tool for students.
