Robotics in the classroom: Hopes or threats?

Abstract

Artificial intelligence implemented in a great diversity of systems, such as smartphones, computers, or robots, is progressively invading almost all aspects of life. Education is already concerned by this revolution, as are medicine or care for elderly people. Education is indeed a special case, because it is fundamentally based on the relationship, involving love and emotions as well as knowledge, between a fragile child and an adult. But teachers are becoming rare and education expensive: The Earth demography is here an economical challenge. We examine some of the various modalities of teacher substitution, companionship or computer-resources which are already experimented, and discuss their ethical aspects. We conclude on the positive aspects of computer-aided education, which does not substitute the teacher, but may help and provide continued professional development.