State Senator Mike Porfirio has introduced House Bill 1859 to safeguard teachers in Illinois by prohibiting AI as the sole source of instruction in public community colleges. This move comes against the backdrop of growing AI use in education, aiming to ensure students learn from actual teachers rather than artificial intelligence. The bill has passed the Senate Executive Committee.
SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mike Porfirio is stepping up to protect the vital role of teachers as classrooms increasingly embrace artificial intelligence. A recent study revealed that a quarter of teachers are currently utilizing AI tools in their teaching methods. Porfirio’s bill aims to ensure that students are learning from real instructors, not their silicon counterparts.
“AI is a tool, not a teacher,” Porfirio (D-Lyons Township) stated emphatically. He firmly believes Illinois must take proactive steps to navigate the waters of evolving technology. His proposed legislation, House Bill 1859, is designed to keep teacher jobs secure and guarantee authentic educational experiences for Illinois students.
The bill states that AI cannot be the sole source of instruction at public community colleges, meaning human faculty members must always be present. However, teachers aren’t being entirely left in the dark; they can still utilize AI as a resource to enhance their teaching. This move comes on the heels of California’s 2024 law that similarly bars AI bots from replacing community college faculty, setting a precedent.
Across the educational landscape, institutions are exploring innovative methods to integrate AI into their curriculum. Notably, in 2023, Harvard University announced its plan to deploy an AI teaching assistant for its renowned CS50 course. Porfirio’s bill stands to balance the incorporation of AI while protecting the integrity and necessity of real-world educators in Illinois community colleges.
House Bill 1859 has already cleared the Senate Executive Committee as of Wednesday, marking an important step towards its potential enactment. As schools experiment with the capabilities of AI, Porfirio’s legislation aims to ensure that teachers continue to play an irreplaceable role in the educational journey.
Senator Mike Porfirio’s House Bill 1859 seeks to secure the position of teachers amid the rising presence of AI in education. By prohibiting artificial intelligence from being the main instructional source in public community colleges, the bill aims to maintain genuine teaching and learning experiences. Porfirio’s efforts reflect a growing concern regarding technology’s role in the classroom and a commitment to ensuring that human educators remain at the forefront of student education.
Original Source: illinoissenatedemocrats.com
