Why Equity Must Be a Core Part of the Conversation About AI

• By Daysha Jackson Sanchez
• 08/06/24

AI has been on a rapid rise, turning the education industry on its head as students, instructors, institutions, and providers come to terms with the opportunities and challenges the technology presents. AI is an immensely powerful tool that can provide customized support for students with diverse learning needs, tailoring educational experiences to meet students' individual needs more effectively. However, significant disparities in AI access and digital literacy skills prevent many of these same students from fully leveraging its benefits.

Potential Benefits of AI for Marginalized Students

AI has the potential to be an incredibly beneficial resource for marginalized student groups and those with specific learning needs. AI-driven educational platforms can adapt to the pace and style of individual learners, offering interactive and multimodal learning experiences that cater to different sensory inputs, such as visual and auditory cues. For instance, AI can assist neurodivergent individuals by reading text aloud to help with reading challenges. It can also convert spoken words into written text, allowing students to dictate their responses.

AI can assist with handwriting difficulties using predictive text and grammar correction, making it easier for students to communicate ideas. For students with ADHD, AI-driven planners and reminders can help manage tasks and deadlines, and interactive learning experiences can make lessons more engaging and help maintain attention.

Furthermore, AI can support other marginalized student groups, such as those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, first-generation students, and diverse racial and ethnic groups. AI can provide additional tutoring and personalized learning pathways that help bridge educational gaps caused by varying levels of prior educational access. For students juggling multiple responsibilities, such as work and parenting, AI offers flexible learning schedules and resources that can be accessed anytime, making it easier to balance education with other tasks. Additionally, AI's ability to customize learning experiences to match an individual's pace and prior knowledge can enhance the overall learning process.

Challenges to Achieving AI Equity

Though AI has several potential benefits, there are significant hurdles to making AI learning solutions genuinely equitable for all learners. Given AI's rapid development and adoption in recent years, discussions around whether AI is being developed and implemented equitably have often come as an afterthought. Achieving AI equity is necessary to reap the full benefits of this burgeoning technology.

Access to AI tools is the first major roadblock, with disparities in technology and internet access across different demographic groups. According to a Pew Research Center study, approximately 25% of adults with annual household incomes below $30,000 do not own a smartphone, and over 40% lack home broadband services. Furthermore, research from the University of Florida found that one in eight college students who live off campus lack consistent broadband access. Disparities vary significantly along racial and geographic lines, with access lowest among Navajo students and students living in rural states. These statistics highlight the digital divide that limits access to AI tools for many. Some individuals will be unable to utilize AI tools at all, while others may have varying levels of comfort and proficiency with the technology.

There is also a broader digital literacy divide to consider. Users' experiences with AI will differ based on their familiarity and comfort with technology as a whole. A significant portion of the population, particularly those in jobs that do not require consistent computer or internet access, may not be accustomed to using these technologies. Transitioning from the infrequent use of search tools like Google and other online resources to effectively using AI can be daunting, requiring a longer learning curve. This disparity underscores the need to acknowledge that not everyone is starting from the same level of understanding and technological proficiency.

Importance of Designing AI with Equity from the Start

It is ideal to design AI products with equity from the start. Retrofitting equity considerations into an already developed product is problematic, as it often fails to address foundational biases and systemic inequities. Equitable design ensures that diverse needs and potential disparities are integral to the development process, leading to more inclusive and effective solutions. Without this proactive approach, AI systems are likely to perpetuate or even exacerbate existing inequities.

In the absence of tools built with equity from the onset, the best alternative approach is to do our due diligence in finding the best available technology. This includes thoroughly testing existing software for biases, involving a diverse group of individuals to provide feedback, and evaluating the software's performance in different contexts. Once we identify suitable tools, being transparent about how the AI is used is essential. Transparency in AI usage helps build trust and allows users to understand the potential biases and limitations of the technology.

As we discover more about the technology, we must regularly update the algorithm to incorporate new information, correct biases, and improve accuracy. By continuously refining the AI with diverse and inclusive data, conducting ongoing testing, and integrating feedback from a wide range of users, we can help the algorithm evolve to better serve all users equitably.

Additional Considerations and Challenges

It's important to note that AI is not a panacea. While it holds great potential to "equitize" education, its use can also pose risks if equity is not a central consideration in its creation and implementation. Challenges such as bias in AI algorithms, data privacy concerns, and the digital divide must be addressed to ensure AI benefits all students. Additionally, there is the potential for over-reliance on AI, which could hinder students' growth in certain areas if they become too dependent on these tools. Moreover, AI-generated outputs can sometimes fail to reflect the user's unique voice, potentially leading to a lack of authenticity in students' work.

Moving Forward

Given these challenges, education industry leaders and ed tech providers must actively ensure that AI can be accessed and implemented equitably. One area of progress in recent years has been an uptick in state and federal projects that aim to increase broadband coverage for schools and rural residents. Lawmakers from Kentucky to Alaska have set aside billions of dollars in funding to improve high-speed internet access for schools and communities. Education interest groups, activists, and higher ed institutions have heavily advocated for these bills, and their success demonstrates the power and necessity of industry-wide collaboration. Key stakeholders must continue pushing for public policies that address the digital divide.

AI equity is top-of-mind for my work at Lumen Learning, where we are exploring methods to address AI disparities from our unique position as courseware developers. Though we are still in the early stages, my colleagues and I have prioritized a thoughtful and intentional approach as we have begun to grapple with the technology and its implications for our work. Several key considerations drive this strategy.

Rather than implementing AI for the sake of adoption, ed tech providers should focus on two things: 1) thoughtful integration over hasty deployment that could potentially lead to issues related to bias, accessibility, and overall effectiveness, and 2) how AI can be strategically leveraged to improve educational outcomes and empower both students and faculty members. While we are dedicated to fostering equity and inclusion within our educational products, this commitment must include ensuring equitable access to AI resources within our courseware.

By focusing on these areas, we can create an educational environment where all students, regardless of their background or prior exposure to technology, can benefit from AI advancements.