In mid-2023 we posted an article to this blog revolving around the question:
“What is the role of Artificial Intelligence in deescalation training?”
As it happened, we posed that question to chatGPT. The answer we got was:
Artificial learning, or machine learning, can play a significant role in deescalation training. Deescalation training is an essential component of many professions, including law enforcement, healthcare, social work, and customer service. The goal of deescalation training is to equip individuals with the skills to calm tense situations and prevent them from escalating into violence or conflict.
Artificial learning can be used to simulate scenarios where deescalation techniques may be necessary, and provide trainees with a safe and controlled environment to practice their skills. By using machine learning algorithms, these simulations can adapt to the trainee’s behavior, allowing for a personalized learning experience.
And the blog post went on to discuss some of the implications of chatGPT’s response. We didn’t dismiss the possibilities outright- in fact, we committed to exploring the possibilities AI offers to enhance and improve the Mandt System learning experience.
We posed that question again recently to chatGPT and received an even more detailed and interesting response- extending the idea that AI could be used to simulate crisis situations and allow learners to improve their skills in self-regulation and helping others to self-regulate.
And we should be very clear- Any tool or technique that can help keep people safe, comfortable and productive through improved relationships consistent with the philosophy of The Mandt System is a tool we will consider using.
And so it is with Artificial Intelligence.
While we continue to be extremely cautious with attempting to simulate human behavior in the challenging environments you work in, and while the need for consistency in a context of a training certification presently makes adaptive learning strategies problematic, we do believe there can be a place for AI-enabled tools within the Mandt System’s learning experience.
Our focused discussions with certified instructors and even prospective customers prior to the development of Mandt 3.0 and since have made it clear that the need to extend the training experience beyond the classroom and to continue to increase its relevance to specific workplaces.
And that is the direction we will be exploring in the months to come.
It’s important to remember that while AI tools may be able to enhance and enrich the learning experience, it is the philosophy and focus on humanity that makes any learning experience possible at all. We concluded that 2023 blog post by saying, in part:
AI does not have the capacity to evaluate the circumstances and challenges of the individuals in your care. AI cannot take into consideration trauma histories and myriad other complexities that impact all human behavior, or help us improve relationships and interactions…
And we will end this blog post the same way. We will not use AI tools to minimize or side-step the complexities of human behavior, or allow the learning experience produced by the Mandt System to over-simplify the solutions we offer.
Join us as we explore doing just the opposite- looking for ways to use these tools to allow us to bring the learning experience beyond the classroom and make the experience more relevant than ever.
Ralph Metzner – Chief Innovation Officer – The Mandt System
