On 19 February, the Faculty of Information Technology at VNUHCM-University of Sciences held a seminar titled “ChatGPT and AI: Challenges and Opportunities in Universal Education.” The event featured numerous experts in education and artificial intelligence.

 From the VNUHCM-University of Science:

From the guests:

Opening the programme, Assoc. Prof. Đinh Điền provided an overview of ChatGPT. He assessed that ChatGPT’s influence in education is significant, as it can search for and synthesise information quickly and efficiently while assisting users with editing and composing content. However, he noted that ChatGPT currently has a limited corpus and may struggle to provide accurate answers with respect to nation-specific or culturally relevant histories and documents, particularly those related to Nôm writing. Regarding the future development of ChatGPT, Assoc. Prof. Đinh Điền stated that it would increasingly incorporate audio and graphics, thus enhancing the accuracy of its responses. It will also learn to interpret listeners’ facial expressions, which will aid in understanding their emotional states.

During the discussion, in response to a question about the potential negative impact of ChatGPT on individuals, D.Sc. Giáp Văn Dương expressed concern that ChatGPT could influence our values, perceptions, beliefs, and even our memories. He emphasised that, in order to harness the potential of the application effectively and avoid adverse effects, students and users must cultivate self-control and creative thinking. D.Sc. Lâm Quang Vũ added that ChatGPT could support teachers in preparing lectures and assessments. While teachers remain responsible for lesson preparation, they can utilise ChatGPT to verify whether the information is current. As teachers update their knowledge and adapt their roles, the way they engage with students may need to evolve as well. One limitation of ChatGPT is that it does not possess up-to-date knowledge; thus, it cannot assist teachers when they seek insights on ongoing or contemporary issues.

In addition to evaluating the significant impacts of ChatGPT specifically and artificial intelligence more generally across various fields, especially education and training, experts also proposed strategies for adapting to this new era.

Given the relevance of the topic, the seminar attracted over 200 participants who attended in person at Lecture Hall 1, with more than 500 viewers joining online via the Zoom platform.