G-7 Education Ministers See Mixed Effects of Generative AI

Jiji Press

14:41 JST, May 15, 2023

KANAZAWA (Jiji Press) — Education ministers from the Group of Seven major countries on Sunday adopted a joint statement recognizing the positive and negative effects on education of cutting-edge technologies including generative artificial intelligence, such AI chatbot ChatGPT.

At their meeting in Kanazawa, the G7 ministers indicated that their countries will carefully examine the merits and demerits of such AI tools.

In the statement, the ministers noted that many educational institutions were forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic, and pointed to the need to develop an educational environment based on information and communications technology.

At the same time, they stressed that digital technology-based learning will not replace face-to-face teaching, but will complement it.

The ministers also vowed to revive international student exchanges, which had stalled amid the pandemic.

Over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ministers said that the G7 countries will work proactively to ensure that all people, including Ukrainian children, have access to equal and quality education.

Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Keiko Nagaoka, who chaired the Kanazawa meeting, told a press conference that many issues have emerged that are difficult for any country to address alone.

“It is important that the G7 and international organizations continue to work closely together,” Nagaoka said.