Public school bans on AI tools like ChatGPT raise fears private school kids are gaining an unfair edge and widening a digital divide

History teacher Matt Esterman opens the "Artificial Intelligence teacher toolkit" on his laptop to show off software that could turbocharge classrooms of the future. Key points: ChatGPT is banned in most Australian public schools Some independent schools are incorporating it into teaching, creating fears of a "digital divide" Education ministers are expected to discuss it at a meeting in July He sees AI as an educational "copilot" that could give students and teachers here an edge. "I think it'll be really exciting because it's actually taking human knowledge, and the stuff we've put together as a civilisation almost, and re-presenting it to us," Mr Esterman says. "I think there is certainly the potential to use these new tools in ways that can make teachers' work more professionally engaging and create more time for them to do what they do best, which is teaching in the classroom," said Professor Sam Sellar, a research dean in education policy at the University of South Australia. "It's often challenging to find authentic evidence, but with the resource we're using, it gives you a bunch of evidence just like that," Arlene said.