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Is AI the future of education in the South East?
Artificial intelligence (AI) in education was once just considered a tool used by pupils to help write their essays. Still, schools in the South East are also beginning to harness the technology.
A West Sussex boarding prep school now has an AI head teacher acting as a "co-pilot" with the school's human leader Tom Rogerson.
Cottesmore School has also allowed students to design their perfect tutor using technology.
The government has said AI has the power to "transform education".
How AI is being used
Some schools in the Southeast have used the technology to help with formatting worksheets, but the AI head teacher was brought in to advise on issues such as how to support teachers and staff members and ways to help children with additional needs.
Mr Rogerson, head teacher at Cottesmore School, said: "It's there for advice and to clarify thoughts and as a sounding board."
On top of this, the AI tutors were adopted so students could ask questions when one-on-one time with their teachers was not available.
The school in Pease Pottage, which educates children aged eight to 13, also set up the "My Future School" project, where children design their perfect imaginary school with the help of AI.
AI has also been incorporated into lessons in Turner Schools in Folkestone, Kent, to teach students about how to use it responsibly.
Its future impact
Dr. Chris Trace, head of digital learning at the University of Surrey, explained that AI was "here to stay, and it's only getting better and faster".
He said: "In the future world of work I see that AI will be an integral tool.
"You may not have your job replaced by AI, but you will likely have it replaced by somebody who can use AI."
Dr Trace claimed that in the future a student's progress could be tracked with the help of AI to know what they understood, and what they needed help with.
"I think the future is bright for education and technology and its use, especially in the South East."
Headteacher Mr. Rogerson said he thought AI would "turn education on its head".
AI could also help teach people in a "very individual and bespoke way" while making education more efficient, he explained.
