Humanizing AI in Education: A Readability Comparison of LLM and Human-Created Educational Content

Generative AI (GenAI), specifically the Large Language Model (LLM), focuses on creating content like text, images, audio, or other data types similar to that created by humans. Advancements in various LLMs have accelerated AI development, potentially impacting various fields, including education. Can LLMs produce educational content with similar readability features as human-generated reading passages? This study compared readability measures such as reading speed, comprehension, and qualitative characteristics (familiarity, interest, and perceived quality) of 300-word 8th-grade level text passages authored by humans and ChatGPT3.5. We found that ChatGPT3.5-generated passages can be read faster with better comprehension than conventionally human-authored passages. ChatGPT3.5 passages were also rated higher-quality passages and had comparable ratings for interest and familiarity compared to human-authored passages. These findings implicate that the LLM enhances educational materials’ usability and effectiveness. More importantly, LLM offers scalability and consistency, catering to diverse learning needs for educators and students.