06 April 2023
High school students and those who help in their education in Cyprus have developed an unusual robot.
The robot uses ChatGPT artificial intelligence , or AI, technology. ChatGPT is a system developed by U.S. company OpenAI and backed by the technology company Microsoft.
The aim of the students is to use the technology to improve learning experiences in the classroom.
ChatGPT is an AI system that can have a discussion and create written work. It can create material based on what it has learned from a large database of digital books, online writings, and other media.
The robot is named AInstein. Three PASCAL schools in Cyprus built AInstein. It is the size of a small adult. The robot even has a screen for a face that appears to show human facial expressions.
It speaks a North American form of English. And it can tell jokes, like "Why was the maths book sad? Because it had too many problems." It attempts to speak Greek. And it even tries to talk about physicist Albert Einstein's theory of relativity in class.
The robot does not have a favorite movie, saying it was "before his time." But it enjoys reading science books and spending time playing the violin, an instrument.
Student Richard Erkhov is 16. He is the lead programmer of the AI brain. He said artificial intelligence is set to improve a lot. Erkhov told Reuters, "It might help in a lot of spheres of life, such as education and medicine."
Another student, 15-year-old Vladimir Baranov, said the technology was "incredible."
"It mimics human thinking, answers like humans, responds like humans. It is not yet very polished...But it is getting there," he said.
Tutors are teachers who work with one student. The tutors who helped with the project said the greater purpose of AInstein is to include it in teaching.
Tutor Elpidoforos Anastasiou is the project's leader. He said that students can ask it questions, it can answer back, and the robot can even help teachers teach more effectively.
Anastasiou showed how AI can be fitted to the classroom with AInstein showing how part of Albert Einstein's theory of time relativity can be explained by talking about a moving object called a pendulum.
Their experience with AInstein showed that AI is not anything to fear, project members said.
The European Union is considering legislation for artificial intelligence. But developments in the technology are happening faster than lawmakers' efforts to control it.
AInstein itself answers if the technology is something to be feared. It said, "Humans are the ones who create and control AI, and it is up to us to ensure that its development and implementation serve the betterment of humanity...we should not fear AI, but rather approach it with care and responsible consideration."
I'm Gregory Stachel.
Yiannis Kourtoglou reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.
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Words in This Story
artificial intelligence – n. an area of computer science that deals with giving machines the ability to seem like they have human intelligence
sphere – n. an area of influence or activity
incredible – adj. difficult or impossible to believe
mimic – v. to create the appearance or effect of (something)
polished – adj. very impressive or skillful
tutor –n. a person who teaches one or just a few students
implement – v. to begin to do or use (something, such as a plan)
approach – v. to begin to deal with or think about (something)