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Research Article

Exploring public perceptions of generative AI and education: topic modelling of YouTube comments in Korea

ORCID Icon, , &
Pages 61-80 | Received 13 Aug 2023, Accepted 03 Dec 2023, Published online: 17 Dec 2023
 

ABSTRACT

This study aims to investigate the public’s perceptions regarding the integration of Generative AI (GenAI) in education by analysing comments on YouTube news clips. The study collected public comments from YouTube news clips disseminated by three prominent broadcasters in South Korea between December 2022 and June 2023. Two dimensions of public perceptions were examined: sentiments and prevalent topics. Employing machine learning techniques, we conducted sentiment analysis and topic modelling on the crowdsourced dataset of 18,566 comments from 66 YouTube news clips. The first research question focused on public sentiments towards GenAI and education. Findings reveal a predominance of neutral sentiments. Rather than adopting extreme positions of complete acceptance or rejection, the public displayed an inclination to appreciate the intricate nuances of GenAI’s implications. The second research question sought to identify the main topics emerging from public comments on GenAI and education. We identified 11 distinct topics where two topics are directly linked to educational implications: demands for changes in learning and assessment methods, and the use of GenAI in higher education. Based on the key findings, we draw implications that can inform a broader understanding of public sentiment and perspective towards GenAI and education.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hyo-Jeong So

Hyo-Jeong So is a professor of Educational Technology at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. Her main research interests include mobile learning, computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), and informal learning. She is particularly interested in examining how to integrate emerging technologies for teaching and learning from collaborative knowledge building perspectives.

Hyeji Jang

Hyeji Jang is a graduate student in Educational Technology at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. Her research interests include technology-enhanced learning design and teacher education. Recently, she has studied the design and evaluation of recommender systems for mobile language learning applications and research trends for the use of emerging technologies in education.

Minseon Kim

Minseon Kim is a graduate student in Educational Technology at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education and has previously worked as an English teacher in a secondary school. She is interested in the application of AI in the context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education.

Jieun Choi

Jieun Choi is a graduate student at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea where she is pursuing her doctorate degree in Educational Technology. After obtaining a master’s degree in Educational Technology from the same university, she worked as an instructional designer at a university. She is interested in learning design through leveraging the affordances of AI technologies.

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