Criticism Mounts for LA Unified After Failure of AI Tool “Ed”

Los Angeles Unified School District faced criticism from parents, educators, and advocates over the turbulent introduction and subsequent failure of its high-tech artificial intelligence chatbot “Ed,” while continuing to move forward with additional initiatives utilizing cutting-edge technology,

Following the departure of the CEO and staff furloughs at the company tasked with developing the chatbot, LAUSD made the decision last month to attempt to salvage the $6 million investment in the project.

Despite setbacks, the Los Angeles Unified school board passed a resolution on June 18 to develop a new AI-powered online platform, enabling parents to access information on school budgets and student performance.

Despite calls from educators and families to prioritize academics and social services over new technological endeavors, concerns surrounding the flawed chatbot rollout and data security remain unaddressed, as per allegations.

Evelyn Aleman of Our Voice, a group advocating for low-income and Spanish-speaking families in LA Unified, emphasized the necessity for addressing literacy challenges and the issue of homeless students rather than rushing into tech advances, stating, “You have the administration rolling out the latest technology, but the parents that I’m working with have no clue what that’s all about.”

Aleman highlighted that many families lack internet access to utilize new AI tools, with a focus needed on fundamental issues like literacy, school safety, and mental health resources.

Los Angeles Unified made headlines in March with the unveiling of its AI chatbot “Ed,” boasting the first large-scale deployment of artificial intelligence technology in schools nationwide.

Superintendent Aberto Carvalho hailed the initiative as transformative, promising enhanced student and parental access to data and potential benefits in individualized instruction.

However, the sudden departure of AllHere’s CEO and staff furloughs due to financial woes led to the immediate suspension of the Ed chatbot, which LAUSD had invested $3 million in under a $6 million agreement.

An investigation by LAUSD’s inspector general’s office is underway amid concerns over potential data privacy violations by AllHere.

SEIU Local 99 advisor Lester Garcia raised apprehensions regarding data security breaches, expressing uncertainties surrounding the rushed implementation of the AI system.

Math teacher Dan Chang criticized the functionality of the Ed chatbot, indicating it predominantly offered generic information available elsewhere on the district’s website.

Chang suggested a more beneficial use of AI in empowering teachers with student assessment insights for tailored instruction and parent communication.

While acknowledging the setback of the Ed program, LAUSD remains committed to exploring AI applications, with plans for an AI-powered budgeting tool to enhance fiscal transparency,

LA Unified board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin emphasized the educational value derived from the missteps with AllHere, citing them as lessons for the future integration of AI technology.

Education professor Stephen Aguilar at USC noted the inevitability of AI adoption in education despite the challenges, cautioning against premature incorporation without full comprehension of its capabilities and risks.

USC’s Center for Generative AI and Society delves into the impact of AI on education, emphasizing the necessity for informed decisions to maximize the benefits of these innovations.