For the most of human history, literacy was referred to as a person’s ability to read and write texts. Around 3400 BC, in the old ages, the ability to write in Sumerian on a clay tablet to document business contracts and agricultural matters made one literate in Sumer (modern-day Iraq). On the contrary, you wouldn’t be considered literate in some discourse communities in 2023, if you didn’t have the skills to navigate the internet, send emails, join video calls and use various other apps. As cultures and technologies change and as our understanding of reading and writing gets more complex, definitions of literacy are also evolving.
Initially, the advancements in technology transformed the way people engage, communicate, work and learn. It involves learning via a variety of technological platforms, including computers, the internet, distant learning, or a mix of all these three. But that’s not all— it is now remarkably transformed by ChatGPT, a language model that can respond to your questions instantly, engage in dynamic discussions, and even anticipate your next question.
“What is literacy in today’s digital world?” is what I recently asked the free, less-powerful version of ChatGPT. The answer was the following: “Literacy in today’s digital world goes beyond reading and writing to include digital literacy, media literacy, and information literacy. These skills enable individuals to effectively use digital tools, critically analyze media, and find, evaluate, and utilize information in a complex, interconnected society”.
This artificial intelligence technology known as “generative AI” is capable of producing text, images, audio, and synthetic data, among other kinds of content in a matter of seconds. A vast amount of text, including books, journals, and web pages, were used to train ChatGPT. The language model is better able to produce accurate responses on a variety of subjects, including sports, politics, science and technology. Additionally, the bot is capable of producing creative work, including poetry and fictional stories. This highly proficient chatbot was developed by Open AI. It processes and analyzes vast volumes of data using machine learning techniques to provide answers to user queries. This language processing software can comprehend both spoken and written human language. When a learner types in a question, ChatGPT responds with an answer that is clear and comes in a number of formats with specific guidelines.
It’s like having an informed and knowledgeable assistant at your disposal, willing to help you with any subject, information or inquiry you throw at it. Although it is trained on a massive dataset of diverse internet text, which includes both accurate and inaccurate information, but it can generate highly convincing responses, it can answer questions so accurately that it’s legitimately scary. On the one hand, this newfound capability has opened up opportunities. It also raised questions about detrimental cybersecurity attacks against organizations, and deepfakes, which are digitally fabricated images or movies. Misinformation may be disseminated as a result, or even content that appears authentic may be produced.
Revolutions in technology have the ability to shift the power dynamics. Though almost every state is getting ready for an AI future, not every country will see the same effects of this technology. The countries whose populace, express greater optimism and are prepared and willing to integrate AI technology into their institutions and daily lives might be able to outpace their more developed counterparts. Although ChatGPT is a significant technological breakthrough, AI-enabled technology will advance further, the choices we make now will shape the possibilities for the future.
It also has an impact on general education at colleges and universities. It is able to offer personalized learning experiences that adjust to the particular requirements and learning preferences of every individual. Compared to traditional approaches, this can aid pupils in learning more successfully and efficiently. In contrast there are also significant issues and difficulties with it for education. The tide of academic dishonesty is rising swiftly, and this seems to be the latest wave. It is more concerning that students are not participating in the writing process and are losing out on chances to conduct research, exercise critical thinking, and develop original responses. It appears that some educational institutions are only closing their eyes to what is inevitable, as several have already outlawed the usage of AI models such as ChatGPT. However, instead of ignoring them or viewing them as a kind of cheating, it is crucial to learn how to use AI language models ethically and effectively, as a tool to enhance learning experience, not as a shortcut to avoid the learning process.
Developing digital abilities is essential in the fast-paced digital world of today. Digital skills open doors to a multitude of opportunities, whether you’re a professional, student, or someone looking to stay relevant in a tech-driven society. Similar to other competencies, digital literacy ought to begin in the classroom. But many educational institutions are not equipped with the right technology, teacher training, infrastructure, or learning standards to incorporate digital literacy into the curriculum in an effective manner. Public and Private investments in digital infrastructure, frameworks for policy and governance, and training in the use of digital technology is required for effective digital literacy and skill-building.
The development of generative AI is a revolutionary development that will change the direction of markets and the distribution of power among states. Growing capabilities in AI will have a significant impact on issues related to national security, productivity, growth, and human culture. The digital divide remains an ongoing societal concern, this development may widen the already-existing digital and technological divide globally, making it more difficult for low-income countries to develop.
Revolutions in technology have the ability to shift the power dynamics. Though almost every state is getting ready for an AI future, not every country will see the same effects of this technology. The countries whose populace, express greater optimism and are prepared and willing to integrate AI technology into their institutions and daily lives might be able to outpace their more developed counterparts. Although ChatGPT is a significant technological breakthrough, AI-enabled technology will advance further, the choices we make now will shape the possibilities for the future.
