Why 'humans in the loop' is essential for AI in education

As the array of unregulated AI tools continues to grow and students are presented with an expanding range of options and resources, the importance of establishing a balance of transparency, accountability, and human oversight in the incorporation of AI technology in education becomes increasingly evident. 

Recently, the UAE published a set of guidelines to ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used "ethically, fairly and safely".

The Charter's opening statement reinforces that "the United Arab Emirates strives to establish itself as a global leader in the ethical oversight and use of artificial intelligence (AI)."

While the Charter's principles apply to all sectors, there are some that are especially relevant to education. Safety, transparency, accountability and human oversight are some of the key areas institutions around the world, and in the UAE, have focused on when discussing the inclusion of AI in education.

Students expect AI at university

The UAE has arguably one of the faster moving higher education sectors in the world, so perhaps it's no surprise that UAE students have the highest expectation of AI-powered support in the world.

Image: graphic from the Middle Eastern Student Wellbeing Survey 2024, students' answer to the question: 'Do you expect your university to offer AI (artificial intelligence) support tools to students? AI or artificial intelligence refers to a trained, digital helper that gives personal feedback and other 24/7 study help.'

According to the 2024 Middle Eastern Student Wellbeing Survey, conducted by YouGov, 84% of UAE students expect their university to offer AI support tools (compared to the global average of 57%).

Institutions need transparency 

As more and more higher education institutions in the UAE are starting to explore the use of AI both in and outside of the classroom, one of the key concerns they face is oversight over students' use of AI. The Charter echoes this by emphasizing "the irreplaceable value of human judgment and human oversight over AI, aligning with ethical values and social standards to correct any errors or biases that may arise."

This is why, for robust quality assurance in high-risk sectors - like education and health - AI must be balanced by permanent human oversight and inputs. Studiosity’s 'Humans in the Loop' system is designed to be the most comprehensive education technology process, in the world. AI services must ensure human oversight not only for content quality, but for integrity, degree validity, student experience, continual and relevant improvement; and to counter the bias and breaches seen in unrefined LLM.

This unique and comprehensive system provides governance, oversight, and due diligence around AI service delivery and development. Our principles in this regard were built on emerging policy from education departments as well as direct consultation with leadership amongst our university partners; now, we are setting a best practice for AI in learning technology as a benchmark for others.

Image: students in Dubai attending a presentation with Studiosity

Human values must remain at the heart 

This statement from the UAE's Charter (point 9) which expresses "the importance of placing human values at the heart of technological innovation to ensure a positive and lasting impact on society"  reflects Studiosity's approach to AI for Learning, as we align with our company's mission to increase life chances for all students.

To ensure universities in the UAE and globally continue to meet students' expectations around AI, while adhering to government Charters and ethical use of artificial intelligence tools, they must seek partnerships that are values-aligned and provide the essential benchmarks of security, equitable access, and participation.

The incorporation of AI technology in education requires a delicate balance of transparency, accountability, and human oversight to ensure ethical, fair, and safe use - particularly as the unregulated  AI market grows and students have increasing options and resources available. Having a trusted, high-quality, university-approved option for AI support can lead to greater student success across the whole sector.