Since the introduction of ChatGPT in late 2022, education has been turned upside down. What began as an interesting experiment with artificial intelligence by software company OpenAI quickly evolved into a technology that challenges the very foundations of education. Suddenly, proven methods for homework, assessment and testing no longer work as they once did. Recent research shows that up to three-quarters of students now actively use AI in their studies. This new reality demands a different approach.
A dead-end road
The first year after the introduction of ChatGPT was dominated by what we might call the 'fraud narrative.' Educational institutions were confronted with students potentially using AI en masse for their assignments. The reactions were predictable: banning AI use, implementing (unreliable) AI detection software, adjusting assessment formats, and introducing additional oral components. Many of these measures quickly proved to be of limited effectiveness, and prohibiting AI use is practically impossible.
The implementation gap
At the same time, educational institutions struggle with how to constructively implement this technology. This challenge is not unique to education. In the technology sector, this is known as the 'last mile' problem. The potential of AI is clear to everyone, but we get stuck in practical implementation. AI models like Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT are often used by teachers but not structurally supported by educational institutions. Ironically, the largest official application of AI in education currently is AI plagiarism detection – despite there being no universal watermark that makes this detection reliable.
It's time to change our approach to AI in education. AI offers a unique opportunity to improve education, to enhance assessment. Not as a reaction to possible fraud, but as a means to fundamentally improve testing with attention to each student.
We need assessments that challenge students on their learning objectives in new ways. Assessments that can be administered on a large scale without resorting to multiple choice. That can present complex questions and respond when an answer is unclear.
A new vision for assessment
This is where Examplary AI enters the picture. We believe in personalized assessment that can be deployed at scale. Our assessment platform enables teachers to create exactly the tests they envision. Think of a physics teacher having students explain how gravity works, with Examplary AI asking follow-up questions when an answer is unclear. Or a French teacher letting students converse with a virtual French-speaking baker who responds to each answer and neatly concludes the conversation. A history teacher having students critically analyze Caesar's political strategy by putting them in Caesar's shoes. In each scenario, Examplary AI executes the teacher's vision.
Examplary AI functions as an intelligent teaching assistant that adapts to the teacher's instructions and preferences. The platform understands the nuances of the subject matter and assessment criteria, knows when to ask follow-up questions, and how to provide feedback that helps students progress. It also pays attention to details the teacher considers important – whether that's language use, depth of argumentation, or understanding of core concepts. The teacher remains at the helm, guiding the learning process, while Examplary AI handles the execution.
This creates a new dynamic in education. Teachers gain more room to do what they excel at: inspiring, guiding, and providing customized support. They see exactly where their students stand and can respond directly. For students, it means having a personal examiner who challenges them on the application and deepening of their knowledge, and who can provide targeted feedback when desired. The result is education that becomes both more personalized and more scalable – a breakthrough that was unimaginable until recently.
The future of assessment
Our mission is to help teachers assess better with AI. We strengthen education by viewing AI not as a threat but as a tool. Examplary AI provides the tools to redesign exams, tests, practice tests, and homework assignments, allowing teachers to focus on guiding students in their learning process.
We invite teachers and other education professionals to join us in thinking about the future of assessment. Share your experiences with testing, join our group of testers, and contribute your ideas. This is how we deploy AI where it adds value – as support for quality education.