Don’t Believe the Hype Around AI? Maybe You Should Reconsider
Merriam-Webster defines the word hype as "to promote or publicize extravagantly." Educators and school/program leaders should have a visceral reaction to these words. For better or worse, hype is part of the education landscape. Initiative after initiative is introduced, promoted, and supported, only to fall by the wayside when funding dries up, or another more attractive, more hyped initiative comes along. However, some are integrated into the culture of a classroom, school, or organization and function as intended. How and why does this happen?
The Gartner Hype Cycle, a graphical representation of the introduction and application of specific technologies, may provide insight into why some tech and non-tech initiatives stick around or don't:
I learned of this handy graphic in my readings on generative AI, which is said to be approaching the trough of disillusionment. It may be surprising for those of us who are just now beginning to wrap our minds around AI and its impact on our world that it is approaching a low point. The cycle moves quickly, just as everything else in the tech world. For example, the iPhone 15 was released in September 2023, and the latest version, iPhone 16, is slated to be released in September 2024.
Despite first appearing on the Gartner Hype Cycle in 2020, the public's attention to generative AI ramped up significantly in November 2022 with the release of ChatGPT. For the first time, anyone could tap into the power of a text-based system that generated plausible answers (and sometimes comical answers) to a seemingly infinite range of questions and topics. It took only 5 days for ChatGPT to reach 1 million users. By comparison, it took Instagram over 2 months to reach this number.
Growth can slow down as rapidly as it speeds up. The influence of social media, quickly changing trends, and the desire to tap into the next new thing can impact programs and processes. Non-tech education initiatives tend to unfold slowly, but if they compete with a revolving door of tech-driven programs, they may need to be given more oxygen to survive. We only have so many minutes each day to devote to the deep focus and concentration necessary to get ideas off the ground and keep them flying.
Now that we've had access to generative AI for nearly two years, what can we learn from its introduction by using the Gartner Hype Cycle and applying it to other tech and non-tech education initiatives?
Generative AI was a known commodity well before ChatGPT went public in 2022. The thing you're planning to do in your classroom, school, or organization has likely been done by someone else or exists elsewhere. Do your research and learn from other's successes and mistakes.
Learn from your users: ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms learn from each new input. Similarly, we should learn from our students and colleagues when working on new programs and projects.
Using the trough of disillusionment to your advantage: It was inevitable that generative AI would enter a phase of implementation where confusion and frustration bubble to the surface. Rapid advancements are outpacing our understanding of how tech works and how it should be applied to generate the best outcomes. Consider how a trough of disillusionment can shake out the unnecessary parts of your program or initiative and refocus to begin riding the slope of enlightenment.
Reaching the plateau of productivity takes time: It will take some time for us to figure out how AI will best benefit our lives without becoming intrusive. Notice how long the slope of enlightenment compares to the rise from the innovation trigger and the fall to the trough of disillusionment from the peak of expectation. Don't beat yourself up if your new teaching strategy, leadership approach, or programmatic undertaking isn't working exactly as you intended. Improvement is fueled by time, research, and learning from mistakes.
Brad
