An artificial intelligence has been appointed headteacher of a private school in the south of England to reduce headteachers’ workload and help them make decisions.
“Welcome to the AI Director’s Office! How can I help you today?” can be seen on the website of Cottesmore private school in the United Kingdom, under a presentation video featuring new headteacher Abigail Bailey, generated entirely by artificial intelligence (AI).
Since last week, the robot woman has been introduced as the new headmaster of the private boarding school in West Sussex, where she will specifically act as an advisor to the “human” headmaster of the Cottesmore School, Tom Rogerson. The BBC reported this on Tuesday.
“I have been appointed to help manage and run Cottesmore School. […] For the avoidance of doubt and full disclosure, I am the principal of an AI robotics school,” the video can be heard saying, but it leaves no doubt about the nature of AI.
The “chatbot” type director, i.e. with which we can communicate in writing, was developed by a developer specifically to support the director, but also other teachers and employees, in their tasks.
“Being a principal is a very lonely job. Of course we have groups of school leaders…but we just have someone or something on hand to help us […] It’s very reassuring,” Tom Rogerson told The Telegraph, according to the BBC.
“It’s nice to think that someone who is incredibly well educated is there to help you make a decision,” he added to British media.
Students aged 4 to 13 would also have access to their own version of AI to help them learn, British media reported.
Apparently the robotic unit will not be able to lead assemblies, give detentions or distribute homework, British media said, and the school does not plan to use it to replace teachers, the principal said.