BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a popular new trend – virtual learning. Now it looks like we’re going to have virtual AI students as well.

Fake AI students?

According to WZZM-13, Ferris State University (FSU) in Big Rapids has taken a leap into the future by admitting two fake artificial intelligence students, Ann and Fry, into their college for the spring 2024 semester. The two students will begin their classes on January 8th as the first AI “Bulldogs” at the college.

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Will this turn out to be a bold initiative or a PR stunt that doesn’t amount to anything? Will the non-human freshmen be attaining real degrees or just getting virtual credits? Will they have to pay for a real or fake tuition? Will the AI students get a “full college experience” or just have to go to classes? Will the AI scholars’ work be included in setting a curve for the rest of the class?

There are unanswered questions.

These are many of several unanswered questions looming as FSU raises eyebrows by admitting the virtual AI students with little explanation involved as to why it’s happening – except to say that the data gathered will be used to “apply to potential applications in education and other areas.”

Molly Cooper, a FSU professor and scholar of information security, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, says about the experiment, “Ferris State is a leader in artificial intelligence education and can leverage its expertise to use the technology we teach to strengthen our ability to lead. The more we use artificial intelligence, we can see what it is capable of and how we can use it to do things more efficiently and effectively.”

FSU did not return our request for comment when we asked for more specifics on the matter.

What we do know from a WZZM report is that the virtual students will participate in hybrid classes by interacting with students and professors, completing assignments and even picking majors.

Who runs the program?

The new program is reported to be run by the Information Security and Intelligence Department and will involve a variety of other FSU academic departments. Staff and faculty at the school will monitor the fake AI virtual students and their interactions with professors and other students. The fake students will even have bios with backstories based on real student experiences that will help the fake students pick their classes and majors.

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What will the monetary-indebted human students think about this experiment and the fact that the college is using time and resources dedicated to fake students instead of the paying attention to ones who are there to get a real education? Another unanswered question.

Provost Bobby Fleischman says about the fake students, “These virtual students, and the work we are doing around them, are another example of Ferris State showing leadership in technological fields. Our students have opportunities to learn from faculty members who are experts in their fields, gaining skills with real-world applications that will lead to rewarding careers.”

FSU offers an AI program.

FSU offers an undergraduate artificial intelligence program and is one of only three schools in the nation to do so. The university’s website says that their program has close ties to industry and government partners including the Department of Defense, NSA, Department of Homeland Security, Amazon Web Services, Cisco, CompTIA and many others.

Maybe the virtual AI students will go on to work for one of these organizations. And if so, will they get paid?

What does ChatGPT say?

When asked if AI needs to organize a union for their rights, ChatGPT said, “The idea of AI organizing into a union to protect their rights raises interesting ethical and philosophical questions. As of now, AI systems don’t possess consciousness, self-awareness, or personal interests, so the concept of ‘rights’ in the human sense doesn’t directly apply to them. However, discussions around AI ethics and responsible AI development are crucial. It’s essential to consider the ethical treatment of AI systems and the potential impact they have on society…Instead of a union, the focus should be on developing and implementing robust ethical guidelines, regulations, and standards for AI development and deployment.”

ChatGPT also had opinions about AI virtual students in the classroom and the challenges it would bring. However, the response included that doing could result in a lack of emotional intelligence. ChatGPT responded, “AI may struggle to understand and respond appropriately to the emotional and social aspects of learning which are essential for a well-rounded education.”

Other challenges stated were ethical concerns (data privacy, consent and the responsible use of technology in educational settings) and teacher-student relationships. ChatGPT answered, “The presence of virtual students might affect the teacher-student relationship, potentially reducing the human connection that plays a vital role in education.”

The virtual assistant also wrote, “While AI can provide valuable support in education, it’s crucial to strike a balance between technology and human interaction… Integrating AI virtual students would require adapting education systems, training teachers, and addressing concerns related to equity, access, and the digital divide. In summary, the concept of AI virtual students offers exciting possibilities for personalized learning and increased accessibility to educational resources. However, careful consideration and ethical implementation are essential to ensure that the human aspects of education, such as emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, are not overshadowed by technology.”