Future of education in the era of generative artificial intelligence: Consensus among Chinese scholars on applications of ChatGPT in schools

TLDR

ChatGPT, a large‑language‑model chatbot, can generate human‑like responses across diverse topics and, as a generative AI tool, it presents both opportunities and challenges for the digital transformation of education. This systematic review summarizes Chinese scholars’ perspectives on integrating generative AI into education and proposes the DATS framework to guide its implementation. The authors conducted a systematic review and developed the DATS framework, which incorporates the viewpoints of developers, administrators, teachers, and students. Most Chinese scholars endorse cautious GAI integration as a personalized learning aid, yet they warn of risks to academic integrity and students’ critical‑thinking skills.

Abstract

Abstract ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot that utilizes advanced natural language processing technologies, including large language models, to produce human‐like responses to user queries spanning a wide range of topics from programming to mathematics. As an emerging generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tool, it presents novel opportunities and challenges to the ongoing digital transformation of education. This article employs a systematic review approach to summarize the viewpoints of Chinese scholars and experts regarding the implementation of GAI in education. The research findings indicate that a majority of Chinese scholars support the cautious integration of GAI into education as it serves as a learning tool that offers personalized educational experiences for students. However, it also raises concerns related to academic integrity and the potential hindrance to students' critical thinking skills. Consequently, a framework called DATS, which outlines an optimization path for future GAI applications in schools, is proposed. The framework takes into account the perspectives of four key stakeholders: developers, administrators, teachers, and students.