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ChatGPT

ChatGPT – Opportunity or threat?

This new technology is currently being discussed by all the University of Bayreuth’s faculties. Artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT will also permanently change teaching at universities. The University of Bayreuth is aware of this and is addressing the issue at an early stage.

The fundamental question is: Does AI represent an opportunity or a threat? The answer: both. Important opportunities lie in student skill development. You can use the technology to achieve better results, especially in research. Microsoft has now linked its Bing search engine to the latest ChatGPT version 4. This software can also help to develop new research questions in dialogue with the software, for example, and to match them with existing research databases in the future. In addition, students are sensitized to working with artificial intelligence and practice the critical use of computer-generated texts. However, they must be guided in how to do this. This requires a rethinking of teaching strategies and new expertise among lecturers. The University of Bayreuth also has to keep an eye on how it affects the writing of written, scientific papers. AI software will become even better in the future and can access current data from the Internet. Students could use the software to generate parts of a written paper with it.

Continuing education opportunities

Currently, the Centre for Teaching & Learning in Higher Education (ZHL) offers and continues to develop appropriate training formats for all lecturers. There, it is also planned to integrate the students into the discussion process.

ChatGPT will permanently change teaching, as all subjects will have to redefine what their core competencies are that they want to develop in students. Key teaching issues will be: What do students need to know and understand, how can they analyze problems of the subject, and what do they need to develop in a creative and scientific process? To what extent can AI support me in this - for example, with research, text revisions and analyses? What subject-specific skills do students need to critically analyze and evaluate AI-generated information? Because the goals of teaching change, we also design the teaching and learning processes for students accordingly, and adapt the forms of examination accordingly.

Prof. Dr. Martin Huber, Vice President for Teaching & Learning

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