In recent years, the use of AI has expanded to various fields, including healthcare, processing, media, finance, retail, transportation and even education. Although AI has been around for decades, the advent of the technology can help it become a mainstream technology widely used in various industries. Speaking of which, an example of the growing use of AI was seen in a UK School where an AI-powered robot was recently appointed as a “headteacher”.

Cottesmore School, a prep school in West Sussex, has worked with AI and has now produced Abigail Bailey. The robot was specially designed to assist the Normal School’s principal, Mr. Tom Rogerson.

According to the Telegraph, Mr Rogerson hopes AI-enabled principals will advise on issues ranging from helping other staff to helping students with ADHD and drafting school policies. The bot would be very similar to ChatGPT, an online Artificial Intelligence service that took the internet by storm a few months ago.

What’s Behind the AI Principal?

The selection of an AI-powered robot as Cottesmore’s head coach raises interesting questions about the movement’s goals and motivations:

• Is it a technology issue that draws attention to the school? Artificial intelligence is a hot topic right now, so it’s generating a lot of discussion.
• Is the school convinced that AI can provide useful management and teaching advice? Or is the role of the robot more symbolic
• Is this the first step towards automating some key processes and reducing operating costs? Director says artificial intelligence won’t replace teachers, but what about their role in the future?
• How will students and parents interact with an AI leader, even if it is small? Would this undermine the authority of a human leader?

It will take more time to consider a broader AI experiment at Cottesmore. But it is clear that artificial intelligence is increasingly focusing on education, raising more questions about the role and limits of automation.

The principal reiterated that his teachers will not be overwhelmed by robots and technology and that the school now has more staff than before.