University Don Advocates Use of AI Tools to Improve Learning Outcomes

Experts in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have advocated that people embrace and accept AI platforms such as ChatGPT, AskPerplexity, Grok, Gemini, and others as a collaborative tool for productivity.

Artificial Intelligence, AI is the development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that require human intelligence. AI systems are able to process data, identify patterns, make decisions and analyse data to make accurate predictions.

In October 2024 for instance, the cryptocurrency world buzzed with excitement when an AI tool, OpenAI’s ChatGPT predicted XRP, a crypto coin would hit $2.50. At the time of the prediction, XRP was trading at $0.54. ChatGPT’s prediction came to pass just before mid-January, 2025.

The applications of AI covers all sectors from healthcare, business, entertainment, security to education and agriculture.

A don in Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Benin, Computer Science Department, Professor Susan Konyeha insists AI could help academics assist students for better learning outcomes.

Professor Konyeha noted that AI could be used positively and called on all to embrace its positive aspects. The professor stated that as an academic, she has used some AI tools to identify students who are at risk of failing with a view to assisting them.

“AI helps me to identify students that are not doing well in tests and assignments even before the exam. I can therefore concentrate on these ones and prevent them from failing the final exams,” she sated.

On his part, a senior lecturer in Computer Science Department specialised in Machine Learning and Data Analytics, Dr. Efosa Igodan maintained AI has come to stay and would continue to evolve progressively.

Dr. Igodan advocated for government to encourage vigorous learning, even from the kindergarten level so as to ensure mastery that could help Nigeria become a major player in the field of AI for advancements.

According to him, “Introducing it as a subject, starting from kindergarten is the only way we can better appreciate it and channel it for economic, academic or other productive use.”

Professor Konyeha and Dr. Igodan dismissed the idea that it could make people less intelligent but warned against copying AI verbatim when used, as critical thinking requires modification for purpose.

Some students including Mr. Oghenefega Umukoro and Miss Precious Vin-Ighalo maintained that AI has been very helpful in their academic life. They explained AI tools help to simplify difficult to understand topics taught by their lecturers in class.

“It is thrilling to see how you bring a compound problem to AI and with the right prompt, it breaks it down to the simplest level for you to use the information… it really makes things easier,” Vin-Ighalo explained.

A developer, Mr. Osinavel Uloko noted that government could harness AI to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youth by training them in prompt engineering.

Other respondents acknowledged embracing AI would help people understand the technology better and eliminate the fears associated with it.

Henry Onovweghware.