A Shift from Efficiency to Attention, Curiosity, and Dialogue

Educators are increasingly asking themselves how to meaningfully integrate generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into the teaching process. We are used to using GenAI to save time, but the author of the article Use GenAI to slow down and reflect more deeply suggests exactly the opposite: a change of pace and a slower approach that allows us to reestablish curiosity, inquiry, and collaboration as central to higher education, and suggests three specific exercises that can be used in teaching. Recommendations for teaching with AI can also be found in the book titled “Teaching with AI: Practical Strategies to Integrate AI in the Classroom,” presented in the article Teaching with AI: A Research-Based Guide for Educators, which links knowledge of AI to critical thinking, takes into account the SAMR model, the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, and the TPACK model; presents the practical use of various AI tools; includes reflection on how AI can support teachers’ professional development; and, finally, addresses ethical principles.

At the same time, certain tools, such as Edcafe, presented in the article How to Use Edcafe to Create Complete Lesson Plans in Minutes, help educators plan entire lesson plans in just a few minutes, demonstrating how rapidly the infrastructure is developing for educators who wish to use AI. An AI-based educational environment allows us to generate presentations, build chatbots, create flashcards and quizzes, and thereby helps us plan and evaluate the teaching process. But despite our enthusiasm, we must not forget to reflect on the role of the teacher as a creator—and not merely a user—of digital solutions.

In the article Student Success Leaders Worry About Affordability, AI, and Diversity, university leaders highlight the connection between AI and issues of equity. Although technology enables greater adaptation to learning needs, it can simultaneously widen the gap between those who have access to modern tools and those who do not. Universities are therefore seeking models that will ensure equity and digital inclusion. The article Agentic AI Invading the LMS and Other Things We Should Know presents a discussion of so-called agentic AI, which is entering learning environments, automatically tracking student progress, and suggesting adjustments. Although it offers personalization, questions arise regarding privacy, ethics, and the role of the educator as a human factor in the learning process.

The article What happened to creativity in the classroom? addresses the dilemma of whether genUI encourages or hinders creativity in the classroom. Educators warn that thoughtless use can threaten students' creativity, but with the right approach (through well-designed prompts and active guidance and direction in using the tools), it can become a powerful stimulator of creative thinking. The publisher of the Harry Potter books also believes that AI can foster creativity and help overcome creative blocks, as stated in the article AI Can Foster Creativity, while adding that AI does not have the power to replace writers. AI is also well established in the music industry, as the world’s largest music label has signed an agreement with a company whose tool is used by genAI and announced a collaboration on the development of new creative services.

AI not only opens up new possibilities for creation but also provides access to cultural heritage. The Digital Library of Slovenia (dLib), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary and offers more than 1.1 million records, is opening up opportunities for the use of AI in the processing, analysis, and accessibility of cultural heritage. AI will also enable a different approach to searching for resources, as the development of AI-powered search engines will make it possible to search by content as well as by authors or keywords.

We’ve probably all noticed a difference in the responses we get when we use these tools to communicate in, say, Slovenian or English. An interesting study, however, suggests that Polish is the most effective language for giving instructions to AI. English ranks only sixth in terms of effectiveness, and unfortunately, we don’t have data for Slovenian.

Amazon’s Kindle Translate service enables quick translation into multiple languages, which facilitates multilingual access to literature and has a significant impact on the book market. This raises various challenges, such as the quality of translated texts, and also puts the role of translators in a precarious position. At the same time, the debate on the ethical use of AI is intensifying in Slovenia—the campaign to preserve and develop language professions, “AI Translated. AI Missed the Mark,” emphasizes that AI must always uphold humanity and respect cultural values.

Significant breakthroughs are taking place in the field of technology. Snapchat and Perplexity are jointly developing a new search system based on an advanced AI that is expected to completely transform the way we search for information online. Searching for information would no longer be limited to keywords but would instead rely on understanding language, context, and personal preferences, which would transform Snapchat into the platform of the future. The AI is also getting better at understanding speech in noisy environments, offering new possibilities for people with hearing or speech impairments.

Meanwhile, the Gemini AI system in Google Maps is improving safety in Indian cities with advanced navigation features that alert users to flooded streets, traffic jams, and other traffic hazards, which could represent a major step forward in improving traffic safety in the country. New questions are also emerging in the field of video generation. You’ve surely come across numerous videos on social media recently that were generated using OpenAI’s latest tool, Sora, which enables the generation of realistic videos from text—a development that presents both creative and ethical challenges.

OpenAI recently announced that ChatGPT should not be used to provide legal or medical advice, as this can lead to inaccurate and harmful information. Although tech companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of responsible AI use, incidents such as the case of a user who got lost in the woods due to incorrect advice from an AI remind us that we must maintain control over the technology we use.

Finally, here is some information about the Slovenian portal UI-Slovenija, which serves as a hub for knowledge, research, and news about AI. There, you can find the latest articles on innovations, projects, and discussions in Slovenia and around the world. The portal promotes critical understanding and fosters connections among researchers, educators, and the general public.

AI is becoming increasingly intertwined with everyday life—from classrooms to artistic stages and digital libraries. News from the past two weeks shows that its impact depends primarily on how we understand and use it. If we view it as a partner in creation and learning, it can open up new paths to knowledge, accessibility, and innovation. At the same time, however, it reminds us that it must remain at the service of humanity—with a focus on ethics, responsibility, and humanity.

Authors: Mateja Bevčič, Eva Kern Nanut, Eva Škraba, Sanja Jedrinović Čufer, University of Ljubljana Center for the use of ICT in pedagogical process