a age-old question to which the answer has always been “no"

I wouldn’t look at this from the teacher’s perspective.

Large Language Models, in particular, are an incredibly valuable tool for students. It provides instant high quality answersa to questions like “Will technology replace teachers in the Future?” — see the answer ChatGPT 4 gave me at the end of this post.

For most students such a high quality answer to the question just isn’t available - you can’t ask a teacher, because unless the question happens to be part of the unit they’re teaching right now they won’t have time to give you an answer this detailed. The student’s best option (before Generative AI) was to try to find an article or book that was specifically written for your question. But even if that exists, it’s likely really difficult to find and there’s a very high probability of failing to find a good article/book.

In reality the only reliable way for a student to get a good answer to any random question is to spend months researching it. And while that certainly should be encouraged… there are only so many things you can research in a life time. And a lot of questions just aren’t worth that much effort.

It’s a shortcut to a reasonably good answer to any question no matter how trivial and it allows students to quickly elevate their understanding on any particular subject to a level where they will have questions that are genuinely difficult for anyone (or any thing) to answer.

Going back to teachers - I think LLMs can replace a subset of the work teachers currently do. But that doesn’t replace teachers at all - it just frees up some of the teacher’s time so they allocate more of it to other parts of their job.

ChatGPT 4’s response to “Will technology replace teachers in the Future?”

The question of whether technology will replace teachers in the future is complex and involves multiple factors, including advances in technology, educational theory, societal values, and economic considerations. Here’s a breakdown of key points to consider:

1. Technological Advancements: With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and virtual reality, technology is increasingly capable of delivering personalized learning experiences. Tools like adaptive learning software can tailor educational content to meet individual students’ needs, potentially improving outcomes. However, these technologies are typically seen as supplements to, rather than replacements for, human teachers.

2. Role of Teachers: Teachers do more than just deliver content; they mentor, inspire, motivate, and understand the emotional and social needs of their students. The nuanced understanding and emotional intelligence of human teachers in fostering a supportive learning environment are currently beyond the reach of technology.

3. Hybrid Models: The future is likely to see more of a partnership between technology and teachers rather than a replacement scenario. Hybrid models that combine online learning with traditional classroom instruction can leverage the strengths of both teachers and technology, providing a more flexible and personalized learning experience.

4. Societal and Cultural Factors: Education is not just about transferring knowledge; it’s also about building communities, socializing, and developing soft skills. The value placed on these aspects by societies will influence the extent to which technology is integrated into educational systems.

5. Economic and Accessibility Considerations: Technology can potentially make high-quality education more accessible to students in remote or underprivileged areas. However, the cost of implementing and maintaining advanced educational technologies, and ensuring all students have access to necessary devices and internet connectivity, poses significant challenges.

6. Continuous Learning and Professional Development: As educational technologies evolve, so too will the role of teachers. There will be an increasing need for teachers to adapt and integrate new technologies into their teaching practices, emphasizing the importance of continuous professional development.

In summary, while technology will undoubtedly play an increasingly central role in education, it is unlikely to fully replace teachers. Instead, the future of education will likely be characterized by a collaborative relationship between technology and teachers, with each complementing the other to enhance the learning experience. The human aspects of teaching, such as emotional support, understanding, and real-world problem-solving, remain critical components that technology cannot replicate.

Not replace, but enhance and support.

You often see junior developers talk about how they appreciate being able to ask ChatGPT questions without being judged.

I could definitely see education products aimed at long tail tutoring support helping significantly in better equipping students to succeed in a given teacher’s classroom.