AI in education: Getting started is not rocket science„
An interview with Peer Allendörfer.
Peer is a psychologist (B.Sc.) specializing in work and organizational psychology. He advises companies on structuring and optimizing their processes. He has been working with AI since his studies and has followed its development from early systems to the present day. He uses this experience to integrate AI into processes in a targeted and practical way.
„"Peer, where do you currently use AI most frequently?"“
I probably use AI most often for quick fact-checks in everyday life—to look things up or verify an assessment. But it's especially valuable to me as a thought sparring partner, particularly on professional topics. When I have an initial idea or approach, I use AI to critically examine it, develop it further, and structure my thoughts. This often helps me arrive at a clear course of action or a high-quality solution faster than I could without AI assistance.
„"What fascinates you personally about AI? And what might also worry you?"“
What particularly fascinates me is the enormous personalization that AI enables. When it knows the context and relevant information, it can respond very specifically to one's own situation and provide answers that truly fit the person and the respective topic. You don't have to start from scratch every time, but can continue thinking directly from there; I see great added value in that.
At the same time, I see the danger of a certain over-trust. AI can appear very competent and convincing, but it is not human and not automatically a reliable expert. Especially when people begin to trust it very strongly, to anthropomorphize it, or even to develop an emotional attachment, I think it's important to constantly remind ourselves: It is artificial intelligence, not human.
„"Does every training company need its own AI strategy, or is common sense and a few clear rules sufficient to start with?"“
For me, it depends a bit on what you mean by an AI strategy. It doesn't have to be a grand strategic concept right away. A sensible first step can be to introduce employees and trainees to AI in an accessible and safe way, to establish a foundation, and to reduce any apprehension they may have.
This allows us to build upon it step by step: Where do we want to strategically deploy AI? Who wants to and can contribute more? What roles and responsibilities do we need? For me, it's crucial that an AI strategy is conceived with a human-centered approach and that acceptance within the company grows alongside it. A few clear rules are therefore a good starting point, but they should be part of a deliberate and systematic process.
„"What advice would you give to trainers who themselves have little experience with AI?"“
My advice would be to first familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of AI, including its possibilities, but also typical errors, risks, and the legal framework. This knowledge is incredibly helpful for better understanding AI-generated results. Especially with work done by trainees, you can then ask more targeted questions: Where does the information come from? Is there a source? Has the result been verified? This way, trainees not only learn to use AI, but also to handle their results critically and responsibly.
„"If you could give a company only one sentence about 'artificial intelligence', what would it be?"„
Don't let the speed of AI development intimidate you: Getting started isn't rocket science, create a solid foundation now, use AI with curiosity and responsibility, and everything else can build on that step by step.
Thank you, Peer, for your valuable tips on the topic of "AI in education".
(Interview also prepared with the help of ChatGPT)