Initial estimates by the experts at UK Jisc’s national centre for AI (NCAI) found that if a student were to subscribe to a full suite of popular generative AI tools and education plug-ins, it could cost them around £1,000 a year, pushing generative AI out of reach for many.
Some AI tools are currently free to use but, without adequate connectivity, some students may still struggle to keep up with their peers and access the education they deserve.
In the 2022/23 digital experience insights survey for students, more than half of all respondents across higher education (HE) and further education (FE) said that poor wifi was a barrier to education, with more than a third also citing concerns around mobile data costs.
