Using AI as a Tutor: Pitfalls and Potentials

AI chatbots stand at the ready to answer student questions about course topics. Sometimes those chatbots even answer correctly! Students regularly turn to ChatGPT and other AI tools for help studying, but how effective are these chatbots at simulating a human tutor? And can we guide our students toward more effective uses of AI for learning?

In this virtual lunch and learn, we'll consider the limitations AI has when acting like a tutor for our students, including AI's tendency to make things up and to tell users what they want to hear. We'll also share strategies for helping students get the most out of their AI tutors so that those interactions enhance learning instead of shortcutting it.