THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: EVIDENCE FROM SERBIA

Abstract

In the knowledge society and knowledge-based economy, artificial intelligence is gaining an increasingly important role and significance. Research shows that artificial intelligence will have a main influence on the global economy through increasing labor productivity through the automation of activities, which will lead to changes in education, health care, public sector services, etc. At the same time, the accelerated development and application of artificial intelligence is causing increasing concern about possible abuses. Therefore, at the global but also at national levels, various initiatives have been launched in order to regulate questions regarding to the development and practical application of AI. The Republic of Serbia also joined these initiatives by adopting “the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2025-2030” as well as the previous Strategy for the period 2020-2025. In addition to normative and institutional regulation, activities aimed at promoting and raising citizens' awareness of the importance of artificial intelligence in order to encourage the inclusion of population in the process of development and improvement of society are also of particular importance. Starting from these facts, the paper analyzes the state and possibilities of using artificial intelligence in the educational institutions in Serbia. In order to determine the level of awareness of Serbian students about artificial intelligence and the perspectives of its application, an original empirical research was conducted in schools in the territory of Serbia. A total of 2.213 students participated in the survey, of which 1.512 were respondents from primary schools and 701 from secondary schools in Serbia. In addition to descriptive statistics and the technique of a structured questionnaire, the appropriate qualitative methodology was applied in this research too. Based on the research results and their interpretation, the authors came to the conclusion that there exists a significant potential for a further implementation of AI in the educational institutions in Serbia, as well as that current practical teaching is poorly developed.