Kids Prefer ChatGPT Over Teachers For Academic Support, Dubai Future Forum Highlights

At the Dubai Future Forum, held on 18-19 November at the Museum of the Future, new research highlighted a shift in how young people seek academic help. Many now prefer generative AI tools like ChatGPT over teachers, primarily due to fear of judgment. This trend was discussed by Beatrice Wilson, a UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellowship fellow from Ghana.

Wilson shared insights during the "Growing Into the Future: A Conversation with a Youth Foresight Fellow" session. She noted that students feel more at ease asking AI for help than teachers. She explained, "Young people felt more comfortable asking ChatGPT than asking a teacher. Sometimes when you ask a teacher a question, they respond by saying ‘ask better questions’; it can make you feel like you shouldn’t raise your hand at all."

Wilson further elaborated on students' perspectives regarding AI in education. She mentioned that using AI might lead to lower grades for students, which they find puzzling since they view AI as an educational tool. Students desire improved collaboration with educators and acceptance of AI in learning environments.

In another session titled "Assessing Future Readiness: Which Tool?", Dr Hazza Al Nuaimi emphasized trust and accessibility in digital services. He stated, "In the government, if we come up with a new digital service or an AI-enabled platform or a future policy, everyone within the society should understand it, trust it, and use it."

Richard Wiese, President of The Explorers Club, spoke about human curiosity's role in progress during "Chasing Tomorrow: How Far Can Human Curiosity Take Us?". He expressed optimism about humanity's ability to tackle future challenges through curiosity-driven exploration.

Dr Aaron Maniam from Oxford University questioned whether societies have truly learned from past global crises during "Time Travelers' Lens: What Can the Past Teach Us About the Future?". He asked if lessons from the pandemic regarding health practices have been fully absorbed.

Innovations in Technology and Health

The forum also explored technological advancements and their impact on health. In "Wearables We Don’t Wear: How Will Invisible Tech Redefine Care?", Roman Axelrod discussed how traditional wearables are evolving into invisible tech integrated with AI.

Andrew Gardner from Emirates Nature–WWF addressed modern urban living's health pressures in "The Future of Health: Do We Need to 'Re-Learn' From Nature?". He highlighted issues like plastic pollution resulting from humans’ expansionist lifestyles.

Tackling Water Scarcity and Intellectual Property Challenges

Mohamed Shelbaya of PepsiCo Middle East & Africa spoke about water scarcity during "Rise of the Aquapreneurs: What if the Next Wave of Sustainable Innovation Comes from Water?". He remarked on its severe impact, noting that nearly 2 billion people still lack access to clean drinking water.

The morning session wrapped up with discussions on intellectual property resilience in "Future of Intellectual Property: Is It Ready for the Age of Disruption?". The focus was on how global IP systems can support innovation amid disruptions.

The Dubai Future Forum is recognized as the largest gathering of futurists globally. It attracts over 2,500 participants from around 100 countries and features 200 speakers from both UAE and international backgrounds.

With inputs from WAM