The education community is optimistic about the benefits Artificial Intelligence (AI) could bring but also recognises the risks, according to the report of the Department for Education’s Call for Evidence on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in education.

Results show that respondents are already using AI tools to streamline administrative tasks, create subject-specific resources, plan lessons, and provide personalised support particularly for learners with special educational needs and disabilities or learners for whom English is an additional language. Teachers using GenAI tools feel they are able to save significant amounts of time by automating tasks.

Some teachers are also experimenting with using GenAI to automate some of their marking and to generate feedback on students’ work and believe that GenAI presents an opportunity for more significant changes to the education system related to assessment and curriculum.

While respondents are broadly optimistic about the benefits AI could bring, they also recognise risks around over-reliance on GenAI tools among pupils, harmful content, ethical use, malpractice, plagiarism, intellectual property protection and concerns about accuracy. Respondents also say that access to the technology may be limited for some students outside of educational settings.

Most respondents say that a lack of skills or knowledge hinders the ability to use GenAI tools effectively, calling for training for teachers as well as students.

The DfE received 567 responses to the call for evidence which was carried out from June to August 2023.  The Department will use the outcomes to shape its future policy for GenAI in education.

OCR’s response to the call for evidence was published in the summer.