Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova delivered a speech at the online briefing themed ‘Artificial Intelligence – the Opportunities and Risks in Providing Children’s Right to Inclusive and Quality Education’, organised on 21 September by the Inter-Parliamentary Union Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova remarked in her address that the question of artificial intelligence and education is not only about technology but also concerns the future of children and the quality of education that they will be provided with.

According to her, while the technology may reinforce education, teachers and human relations are irreplaceable all the same.

It was observed that artificial intelligence is capable of adapting education process to each child’s needs, broaden the educational opportunities of children with disabilities and help deliver quality educational resources to remote communities. Besides, artificial intelligence can assist teachers in identifying gaps in education.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis emphasised that the opportunities that artificial intelligence generates do not because available to all automatically. The dependence of the access to them on a household’s income or place of residence could deepen inequality further. Which is why the Speaker of Parliament underlined the importance of taking into account this area’s risks associated with confidentiality, algorithmic bias, harmful content and the vagueness of human responsibility.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova remarked that the rights of the child ought to be the main guiding principle in the application of artificial intelligence in education. As she then said, artificial intelligence should assist teachers rather than substitute their professional judgement, and it should never turn children into mere data sets.

She also accentuated the substantial role which parliaments play in this field.

Speaker of Parliament Sahiba Gafarova said that the IPU could help parliaments with exchange of legislative experience, preparation of practical recommendations, strengthening control and promotion of the dialogue with education workers, technology companies, international organisations, civil society and children.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova stated at the conclusion of her address that artificial intelligence is entering classrooms already and the main question is not whether this technology should be employed but, rather, how it should be employed in children’s interest.

The principal goal is to use artificial intelligence so as to make education more inclusive, accessible and of a higher quality whilst preserving the human-centric nature of education. Not one child should be left behind because of his or her geographic situation, household income, health capabilities or a limited access to digital opportunities.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis