Why South Korea’s push for AI textbooks tanked

This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology’s impact outside the West.

Ko Ho-dam, a high school junior on South Korea’s Jeju Island, was at first curious to hear that the government planned to roll out artificial intelligence-powered textbooks. The programme would provide personalised learning for students, help prevent dropouts and reduce the workload of teachers, authorities promised.

The programme – a flagship initiative of former President Yoon Suk Yeol – took shape over the last year and a half, with about a dozen publishers approved to develop the digital textbooks. When the textbooks were launched at the start of the school year in March for math, English, and computer science, Ko was disappointed, he told Rest of World.

“All our classes were delayed because of technical problems with the textbooks,” Ko said. “I also didn’t know how to use them well. Working individually on my laptop, I found it hard to stay focused and keep on track. The textbooks didn’t provide lessons tailored to my level.”

Across the country, students like Ko, as well as teachers and parents, complained that the books had factual inaccuracies, posed data privacy risks, increased screen time for children, and resulted in a heavier workload for teachers and students. After just one semester...

Read more