Outsmarted by AI? Video backlash exposes teachers' rising anxiety

Korea Times graphic by Cho Sang-won

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education came under fire after a promotional video for its AI learning platform portrayed teachers as inferior to artificial intelligence (AI), triggering an outcry among educators and reigniting a broader discussion about human oversight in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

The two-minute video, posted on social media on Nov. 14, was meant to raise awareness of “Hi-Learning,” a pilot system introduced this semester for “future-oriented education.” It allows AI to grade student answers in subjects like Korean, social studies and science.

In the video, a bewildered teacher struggles to answer a student’s question about an exam result, only for “Hi-Learning AI” to jump in with quick, insightful explanations. When the student asks for further details, the teacher looks helplessly at the AI, which promptly gives an answer.

In another scene, the teacher tries to reassure the student by saying, “If you work harder, you will get a good result.” But the AI interrupts by saying, “Those are empty words. Your pupils are trembling and your voice lacks sincerity,” leaving the teacher embarrassed.

Hostile reactions quickly surfaced on social media, where hundreds of users, many of them teachers, criticized the video’s portrayal of educators.

“There is an essence that human beings must pursue and continuously refine as humans. AI … that lacks essence and substance is empty and meaningless,” one teacher commented.

Teachers’ unions also condemned the video as disrespectful and harmful to the profession. The Gyeonggi branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) called it “an insulting mockery of teachers’ professionalism.” The liberal organization also called for Gyeonggi Superintendent Yim Tae-hee to stop the operation of the AI-based evaluation system. The superintendent later apologized.

Beyond the initial backlash, education experts say the episode underscores deeper anxieties about AI’s expanding role in the classroom. Many worry that, if not carefully managed, AI integration could alter not only teachers’ responsibilities but also the teacher-student relationship.

According to many teachers, that change has already arrived in classrooms.

“These days, it is safe to say that nearly every student uses AI. I assume that all my students will use tools like ChatGPT when I give them assignments,” a middle school English teacher in Goyang, surnamed Kim, told The Korea Times. “So teaching them how to use such tools safely and effectively has become part of my role … I think it is important to find ways for AI to benefit students, because — as was the case with the internet — AI won’t disappear.”

This signifies a transformation in the traditional role of teachers, who have historically been the primary source of knowledge for their students, according to Heo Won-hee, an educator and a senior KTU member.

“The educator’s role can no longer be confined to that of a mere transmitter of knowledge; this is now an unmistakable reality in education. There’s an agreement among teachers on the need to build new, meaningful relationships with today’s learners that would foster engagement, growth and mutual understanding,” she said.

As AI spreads quickly through Korea’s education system, experts such as Moon Hyung-nam, a professor at Sookmyung Women’s University and chairman of the Korea Association of AI Education, stress that hands-on support from teachers has never been more crucial.

“I think the biggest problem with AI is hallucination (fabricating or distorting information), which isn’t something that will be easily fixed,” Moon said. “While AI can accomplish a wide range of tasks quickly and efficiently, it is often prone to producing false information. That’s why I believe experienced teachers — humans — must supervise and guide AI in the classroom, making the essential judgments that only they can provide.”