Seminar
Date
Friday, April 11th 2025, 4.30 pm - 7 pm
Lecture Hall 6
University of Liechtenstein
Content
This presentation examines the promises and pitfalls of using generative AI in educational settings. Dr. Francesco Sovrano discusses how AI-powered tutoring systems, designed to complement conventional and mastery learning, can enhance learning by providing personalized support and assisting educators. However, the talk also highlights significant challenges: inherent biases in large language models can lead to reduced critical thinking, overreliance, and even propagation of errors when handling out-of-distribution inputs. Through empirical experiments, including analyses of programming education tasks and in-file vulnerability localization, the presentation demonstrates how such biases emerge and impact output quality. Emphasizing the role of explainable AI, Dr. Sovrano advocates for systematic detection and mitigation of these biases to responsibly integrate AI into education and ensure its effectiveness as a teaching tool.
Dr. Francesco Sovrano, ETH Zürich
Francesco Sovrano is a computer scientist and data science researcher, currently an early-career fellow at ETH Zurich's Collegium Helveticum. His research spans explainable AI (XAI), law, natural language processing (NLP), and human-computer interaction (HCI).
Francesco received his PhD in 2023 from the University of Bologna (IT), presenting a new computational theory of explanations influenced by ordinary language philosophy and novel explanatory AI technology. His research included case studies on European legal frameworks and education, highlighting the theory's practical utility in improving learning efficiency for both AI agents and humans.
Before joining the Collegium Helveticum, Francesco was a senior researcher at the University of Zurich in the Zurich Empirical Software Engineering Group from 2023 until 2024, where he continued to advance his research in AI and software explanations.
Program
4.30 pm – 4.35 pm: Opening & Introduction
4.35 pm – 5.20 pm: Talk
5.20 pm – 5.35 pm: Q&A
5.35 pm – 7.00 pm: Apéro
Target Audience
Individuals interested in generative AI, with a particular focus on its application in education.
Information Contact
Arianna Casanova Flores, Ph. D.
Nicole Narobe
Costs
Free of charge. Advance registration required.
Deadline
Apr 10, 2025
The General Terms and Conditions apply by submitting a binding registration.
Details on Right of Withdrawal/Cancellation and Dropout as well as Substitute Participants are regulated in the General Terms and Conditions.