Artificial Intelligence in Education: Cybercrime and Diminished Human Intellect Top Expert Concerns

Artificial Intelligence in Education: Cybercrime and Diminished Human Intellect Top Expert Concerns

New Delhi, January 24, 2025 – The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into education is creating a double-edged sword, offering unprecedented learning opportunities while simultaneously raising serious concerns about cybercrime and the potential erosion of human intellect. These warnings were sounded by experts at a recent webinar convened by  Uday Kumar Manna Founder and National Convener the Ram Janaki Sansthan Positive Broadcasting House (RJS PBH) New Delhi. The discussion, held on International Day of Education and National Girl Child Day, focused on the critical theme: "AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation."

Dr. Pavan Duggal, a leading authority on cyber law and President of cyberlaws.net, painted a stark picture of AI's pervasive influence. “We are riding a tiger of AI and cyberspace,” he declared, emphasizing the technology's relentless and potentially uncontrollable advancement. He cautioned against uncritical acceptance, highlighting AI's susceptibility to "hallucination," where it confidently fabricates and presents misinformation. “If you blindly trust AI, you are playing with fire,” Dr. Duggal stated, citing instances of AI dispensing erroneous legal advice as a prime example of this dangerous flaw.

A significant point of alarm was the increasing reliance of students on AI for academic work. Dr. Duggal pointed out the widespread use of tools like ChatGPT for homework completion, with students even resorting to 3D printers to forge handwritten assignments. This trend, he argued, fosters intellectual laziness and undermines genuine learning. Ethical considerations are equally pressing. “AI is not inherently ethical; it learns from biased data, inevitably producing biased outputs,” Dr. Duggal explained. He lamented the absence of specific AI legislation in India to address ethical dilemmas and potential misuse.

The spectre of AI-fueled cybercrime loomed large in the discussion. Dr. Duggal highlighted the emergence of sophisticated tools like "Fraud GPT" and deepfake technologies, now weaponized by cybercriminals for elaborate scams. These include impersonating authority figures in convincing deepfake videos to perpetrate financial fraud. He recounted a disturbing case where a business executive was swindled out of a large sum by a fabricated video call featuring a digitally simulated Chief Justice of India. “Cybercriminals are now exploiting AI like never before. We are in a golden age of cybercrime,” he warned, underscoring the urgent need for heightened public awareness and robust legal defenses.

Echoing this urgency, Advocate Sudeep Sahu shared his personal brush with cyber fraud, illustrating the fear and panic tactics employed by criminals. He advised immediate termination of suspicious calls and independent verification of any alarming claims. Adding to the concern about over-dependence, Sweety Paul cautioned that youth’s increasing reliance on AI could lead to a decline in crucial critical thinking skills, advocating for strong family guidance to promote balanced technology use.Sunil Kumar Singh of Bharatiya Sanskritik Parishad, stressed the importance of embedding cultural values within AI education frameworks.

Poet Ashok Kumar Malik said that AI is moving towards a stage where human consciousness can manifest in machines. As a result, unknown dangers can arise for humanity. Hence, intellectuals need to discuss sensibly so that AI does not turn out to be a Frankenstein monster. There is the imperative to ensure development of scientific temper in oncoming generations so that they will be able to face with confidence the challenges posed by fast-evolving AI.

Nikhilesh Misra, a former IT officer, offered a more constructive perspective, advocating for AI’s role as an educational assistant to personalize learning, but firmly cautioned against allowing it to supplant human intellect. He emphasized that AI should empower educators and students, not control or diminish their capabilities.

In conclusion, the expert panel at the RJS PBH webinar delivered a clear message: while AI offers exciting possibilities for education, its integration demands careful navigation. Prioritizing robust safeguards against cyber threats and actively preserving essential human skills like critical thinking and ethical reasoning are paramount. Moving forward, a collaborative, multi-pronged approach involving educators, policymakers, technology developers, and families is essential to ensure AI becomes a responsible tool for educational advancement, not a gateway to new vulnerabilities and intellectual dependency.