AI's Impact This Year on Learning, Admissions, and Careers
Artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded in capability and availability recently. Systems like ChatGPT can now hold conversations, write essays, answer questions, and even generate code. 2023 will see some wild new AI uses, but 2024 is when things get really interesting for students. Here are 4 predictions on how AI will evolve on campus next year:
1. Multimodal AI Becomes the Norm
So far, AI systems have focused mostly on text - you type something in, the AI types something back. But in 2024, expect AI to expand across modalities. Instead of just typing, students will talk to AIs, listen to AI voices, see visuals, and more.
Imagine asking your physics tutor AI a question and having it respond with a detailed text explanation and an accompanying diagram it generated on the fly to reinforce the ideas. Or describing a math problem verbally while scribbling notes, and having the AI offer step-by-step solutions out loud and visually.
The key is that AI won’t just be text-in, text-out. It will smoothly support images, audio, even video. This capability across modes will greatly improve students' ability to use AI tutors, research assistants, and more.
2. AI Video Gets Surprisingly Good
Today's AI video is still crude and impractical. But by 2024, expect stunning progress. Students will use AI tools to generate custom 3D animations for projects, produce original short films, create study video supplements - the possibilities are endless.
And it won’t just be students creating the videos. Lectures from top professors globally could be adapted via AI to make customized video lectures for students on-demand on specific topics. Tests could integrate video questions tailored just for you. Video’s potential for education is vast once AI can customize and generate quality footage.
3. AI Changes Classrooms, Majors and Careers
In 2024, AI won't just be a supplemental tool for learning. It will become central to education itself. Expect AI tutors in every classroom. These AIs will adapt their teaching methods on the fly to suit each student's needs.
AI will also increasingly influence majors and careers. AIs will analyze students' talents and interests to recommend ideal majors and careers. AI career coaches will prepare students for job applications and interviews.
Finally, AI will impact college admissions. AIs will better predict student potential by assessing creativity, critical thinking and other abilities beyond test scores. In an AI-powered world, standardized tests will no longer define students' futures.
The Road Ahead
2024 will take AI firmly from scientific curiosity into an essential education tool. Multimodal abilities, video improvements, and AI's centrality to learning will make next year the turning point when AI becomes truly useful for students. It’s an exciting future!