There’s An AI for That: A Site Dedicated to Curating AIs
Author: Samantha Goldman; info@ciddl.org
Artificial Intelligence (AI). It seems to be everything we are talking about, not only at CIDDL but in education and the world as a whole. There is more to AI, though than ChatGPT. As we’ve noted in other blogs, AI has been integrated into several technologies that we regularly use and have used for years. Supports like Grammarly and Alexa or Siri, integrate AI into their systems to predict what you might want. But, how does one find AI supports outside of Google’s Bard and other explicit language models?
There’s an AI for That
That’s the name of a constantly updating resource whose purpose is to catalog resources that use generative language models as a basis for their AI services. The site boasts that they update daily and, at the time of the writing of this blog post, there were over 5,500 AIs designed to complete over 1,500 tasks.
The site can be navigated in several ways. First, there is the featured section, which showcases various AIs. Additionally, users can view the AIs by new, most saved, or in a timeline of release. Perhaps the most useful way for higher education is through the category section, where you can either search using a broad term (e.g., higher education) or click on the starred light gray box within the homepage to see related AIs. Once you select a category, in addition to the suggested AIs, the site will make suggestions of other categories that might interest you.
Which Do I Choose?
With so many new AIs emerging everyday, deciding which are “worth” your time, energy, and data and which are not can seem like a daunting task. Though there may not be a hard-and-fast rule about which AI to use and which not to use, there are some elements to consider, like the trustworthiness of the creators and the data they collect. For a more in depth suggestion list, we consulted ChatGPT.
Here’s the output from ChatGPT:
Here are some key points to help you make an informed decision:
- Purpose and Learning Goals: Clearly define the purpose of incorporating AI tools into your course. Identify the specific learning goals or tasks you want to address using AI, such as language learning, content creation, or student assessment.
- Reliability and Accuracy: Look for language models or AI platforms with a reputation for reliability and accuracy. Consider models that have undergone extensive testing, evaluation, and peer review. Read reviews and feedback from other educators who have used the tools you're considering.
- Customizability and Flexibility: Assess whether the AI tools can be customized to align with your specific teaching approach and curriculum. Look for platforms that offer flexibility in terms of content creation, lesson planning, and assessment options.
- Ease of Use and Accessibility: Consider the user interface and ease of use of the AI tools. Check if they have intuitive interfaces, clear documentation, and user-friendly features that can benefit both educators and students. Additionally, ensure that the tools are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities or diverse learning needs.
- Privacy and Data Security: Understand the data privacy policies and practices of the AI platforms you are considering. Ensure that student data and personal information are handled securely and that the platform complies with relevant privacy regulations.
- Support and Training: Evaluate the level of support and training provided by the platform or model developers. Look for resources such as tutorials, documentation, and responsive customer support that can assist you and your students in effectively utilizing the AI tools.
- Cost and Sustainability: Consider the financial implications of using AI tools. Some platforms may offer free access, while others might have subscription plans or premium features. Assess whether the cost aligns with your budget and evaluate the long-term sustainability of the platform.
- Peer Recommendations and Research: Seek recommendations from other educators, colleagues, or professional networks who have used AI tools in their teaching. Additionally, explore educational research or studies that have examined the effectiveness and impact of AI tools on teaching and learning.
- Trial and Feedback: Whenever possible, conduct a trial or pilot run of the AI tools with a small group of students or colleagues. Collect feedback from participants to gauge the usability, effectiveness, and relevance of the tools for your specific teaching context.
By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision about which language model or AI-powered website will best meet the needs of your higher education teacher preparation course.
Join the Conversation
With that in mind, there are a lot of really helpful and interesting AI solutions emerging, with more coming out every day. Which have you found the most helpful? Which would you or would you not recommend? Head over to our community and share with us!