Hybrid intelligence ensures that AI does not replace learning or make the learner lazy

Artificial intelligence has become a topic of discussion in learning and education. For example, the open AI application ChatGPT enables teachers and students to "ask anything", the thought being: "it might have a good answer" – and quite often it does. Although the development of AI is rapid, the understanding of how AI works in collaboration with humans is still developing. Decades of AI research have shown that AI is superior to humans in processing information. However, intelligence is a complex phenomenon that encompasses several abilities. It includes the ability to learn, understand, reason, make decisions, and adapt to new situations and people.

Human strength lies in metacognition – the ability to think and regulate one's thoughts and emotions. A strong learner uses metacognitive skills to guide their thinking and studying. However, recent research has shown that if students use open AI applications, such as ChatGPT, to think automatically on their behalf in their studies, their own learning mind becomes lazy. Researchers estimate that this can have long-term consequences that weaken learning skills.

Hybrid Intelligence develops intelligent systems to enhance human intelligence rather than replace it

There are three different directions in AI and education research. Applications like ChatGPT are excellent tools for helping with some routine tasks, such as summarizing information or correcting text. AI models can also be used to help learners develop and change their thinking. The third direction is hybrid intelligence research, which develops intelligent systems to enhance human intelligence rather than replace it. These systems can give students the opportunity for their own intellectual efforts, not reduce them.

Hybrid intelligence is being developed to leverage human strengths and compensate for weaknesses. The goal is to combine the strengths of human intelligence and AI so that they behave more intelligently together than separately. The research is in its early stages, but promising solutions are already visible that can strengthen – not replace – humans, for example, in learning and education.

A piloted AI agent, MAI, helped 7th graders at Ritaharju school, and the students gave very positive feedback

In schools, AI can help teachers analyse data generated during learning and provide new detailed information about students' progress. A hybrid intelligence-based AI agent can also act as a member and coach of learning groups, identify problem areas in students' work, and help improve group performance. By utilizing information, the teacher can free up their capacity and focus their valuable expertise on teaching and guiding students.

Recently, we had a very positive pilot project where AI agent MAI, developed by University of Oulu´s Hybrid Intelligence research group, coached 7th graders with physics at Ritaharju school for a month. The students ' experience was that MAI helped them to solve problems better together – and they also reported to remember the learned things better after being challenged by MAI.

More knowledge is still needed from humans, machines, and different areas of life in the research. Ethical questions also need special attention. In the Hybrid Intelligence research programme at the University of Oulu, we aim for equal cooperation between humans and AI so that the unique qualities of humans can flourish. Hybrid intelligence research values humanity.