The use of AI in education is one of the most compelling opportunities for meaningful impact to how we learn and teach. However, as we rush to integrate AI tools in classrooms, study halls, and research labs, AI in education is not yet pervasive. While educators in some subject areas have had more success integrating the technology into their curriculum, others are still unsure of how to harness AI in their discipline.

Sebastian Steffen, an assistant professor in the Business Analytics Department at Boston College, is working to change this narrative. Rather than viewing AI as a specialized tool for just technical students, Steffen advocates for early exposure to AI, in order to ensure that students not only familiarize themselves with these new tools, but also understand how to build with them.

“I found that these tools have made my research more productive, and they’ve allowed me to empirically analyze text data at scale and in contexts that were previously impossible.” His own introduction to AI in research began with a practical application — he started using Cohere’s models, which he accessed via the Cohere Labs Catalyst Grants Program. He used our models to help with his research on knowledge platforms and how different languages can alter the flow of information, resulting in different narratives on historical events (read more about his research on his website).

From research tool to educational framework

Steffen believes that AI systems can be very useful for education. “Besides the typical ways of interacting with AI (i.e., via chat, sharing text, or reproducing text), when used correctly, AI lets students get creative with their work.” He is giving students access to AI APIs to tackle ambitious projects that would’ve previously been impossible within a single semester. Several of his students are planning to use Cohere models for data annotation and text analysis in many different contexts.

Steffen wants students to learn how to work and think with AI. He teaches strategic prompt engineering and programmatic AI use as part of his advanced data management and analytics course. “There’s still a huge element of verification and understanding what you’re doing, you’re just incrementing the scale of output.” Students use the Cohere credits to help gather the data and analysis needed for their projects. Thanks to Steffen’s course, they are able to learn that when used correctly, AI can be a resource, not a crutch.

Take calculators for example. Steffen thinks that “while calculators may have weakened people’s mental math ability, they also allowed teachers to more quickly advance from elementary arithmetic to more advanced topics, such as integration and differential equations. This shift enabled many innovations, created jobs, and contributed to economic growth. AI has the potential to play a similar role, but the key is to foster an independent learning mentality and empower students to recognize how these tools can enhance their productivity.”

Integrating AI into education isn't without its complexities. The careful use of AI tools may positively augment the learning experience, although such tools sometimes generate solutions, material, or ideas that are fabricated, inaccurate, or false. It is the student’s responsibility to review any AI-generated or AI-corrected content for accuracy. This reality makes student education about AI limitations just as important as teaching them about AI capabilities.

Recognizing the potential of Steffen's approach, Cohere has partnered with him to support students at the Boston College Carroll School of Management. This collaboration represents our commitment to ensuring that AI serves educational purposes, and that no students are left behind as these technologies reshape academic and professional landscapes. The most meaningful applications of AI in education emerge from collaboration with educators who understand the complexities of learning and teaching.

As more educators explore creative applications of AI in their classrooms, we're eager to collaborate and learn from their experiences. The future of education won't be determined by the AI tools we use, but by how thoughtfully we integrate them into the learning process.

If you have creative ways that you’d want to use AI in your classroom or other educational environments, please reach out to grants@cohere.com, we’d love to collaborate.

Teresa Grandia