Much of the academic world, whether it is teachers, researchers, or employers, are worried about the uprising of Artificial Intelligence. Does AI lead to more cheating and stunt education? Although deception may be a better word, many are worried that for the younger generations, they do not have to be creative and come up with ideas themselves.
Many pose the argument of “Well, what is the difference between AI and Google search.” Google Search is one application of AI, but AI encompasses a much broader range of technologies and fields of study. In a simpler statement, AI searches can naturally answer questions in a language so similar to people without requiring clicks or more in depth research, basically meaning that artificial intelligence is a key to brain power in any subject.
Now what exactly is Artificial Intelligence? “Artificial Intelligence is a field of science concerned with building computers and machines that can reason, learn, and act in such a way that would normally require human intelligence or that involves data whose scale exceeds what humans can analyze” (Google Cloud). There are four different types of classification for artificial intelligence: reactive, limited memory, theory of mind, and self-awareness.
I asked some students if they thought using AI was effective or if it just made them not work as hard. A Senior says that “AI is effective to a certain extent but when it is overworked and none of the (school) work becomes your own, it turns into a lazy habit.”
Although the student population believes that AI can be helpful, I checked in with staff members to see if they believed that AI is acceptable in a school setting. “Until you are educated on how to appropriately use AI, it can be detrimental to learning. Students should be taught how to use it effectively but until then it is wrong to use and stunts critical thinking” explains Sutton staff member.
Ultimately, Artificial Intelligence is a tool, maybe not the best tool to use in school but it allows for computerized answers in the most humanistic way.
