Published date: 20.03.2023
Have you heard the latest news from Duolingo and Khan Academy? They’re teaming up with GPT-4, the newest version of OpenAI’s language model, to transform the way we learn online.
First up, we have Duolingo, the popular language-learning app that has helped millions of people around the world pick up a new tongue. Personally, I love the way Duolingo teaches a language. It has proven to be quite useful to me while learning Spanish. Now with the help of OpenAI’s GPT-4, Duolingo is getting even better and advancing its product with two new features in its new subscription plan called Duolingo Max. The first feature, “Role Play” provides an AI conversation partner to let learners practice free-flowing conversations in specific contexts. The second feature, “Explain My Answer” breaks down the grammar rules when learners make mistakes.
Teaching grammar requires an understanding of the error and why a learner made it. With GPT-4, Duolingo has far more confidence in the accuracy of AI responses in “Explain My Answer”. It is taking things to the next level by creating a virtual language tutor that can understand freeform questions and prompts. That means you can have a conversation with your app and get personalized feedback on your grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. It’s like having a language teacher in your pocket, but without the awkward small talk. 🙂
Duolingo Max is currently available in Spanish and French, with plans to expand to more languages and introduce new features.
Next, we have Khan Academy, the nonprofit organization that offers free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere. With GPT-4, Khan Academy is creating Khanmigo, an AI-powered assistant that functions as both a virtual tutor for students and a classroom assistant for teachers. Khanmigo can understand freeform questions and prompts, just like Duolingo’s language tutor, but it can also ask students individualized questions to prompt deeper learning. And for teachers, Khanmigo can provide a snapshot of how every student in their class is doing on Khan Academy, so they can tailor their lessons to each student’s needs.
But what’s really exciting about GPT-4 is the potential to help students see the relevance of what they’re studying. In Khan Academy’s early testing, GPT-4 was able to teach specific points of computer programming and help students understand the concepts behind math problems, not just how to solve them. Plus, students can ask GPT-4 why they should learn a particular topic, and get personalized motivation.
Both Duolingo and Khan Academy are committed to responsible AI use and are aware of the ethical considerations surrounding the use of such technology in education. However, they recognize that the benefits of AI-powered learning are massive, and they are keen to explore these possibilities in a responsible and controlled manner.
These two innovative companies are leading the charge in AI integration, bringing us an era of efficient, effective, and super fun learning experiences. We can expect to see a whole new world of learning tailored specifically to our unique needs, abilities, and preferences.
I guess it’s time to say goodbye to one-size-fits-all learning and hello to a bright and personalized future!
Source:
ELT Chalkboard 
Leave a comment