With the click of a button, a line of direction or a simple request, OpenAI can answer any possible question, concern or direction. Within seconds, it provides information students can use for their schoolwork, personal uses or simply to be creative. Students plug in questions as simple as “How do I answer this question?” to more complex commands such as “Here’s my entire worksheet — solve it.” Homework assignments are submitted faster than ever, essays are framed by ChatGPT, and students are slowly straying from the originality and brilliance of their own mind to the superficiality of artificial intelligence.
No doubt, AI is transforming the future of our nation. It helped advance technology, and the efficiency of work systems, schools and businesses. It allows even mediocre high school and college students to reach a somewhat acceptable standard for their schoolwork. According to a Harvard Graduate School Article, “half (51%) of young people ages 14–22 reported using generative AI at some point.” As the use of OpenAI increases, it’s important that we reevaluate its value, and reconsider the broader implications and presence it holds in our lives, especially our education.
Often, students misuse AI. The brilliance of AI can provide students with “personalized learning, instant feedback and access to advanced educational resources,” and can be rewarding when properly utilized to complement the quality and efficiency of your work. According to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign online article, “AI can help you tailor your content to individual student needs and learning styles, based on AI-driven analytics that give you insight into student performance and learning trends.”
According to a 2023 study, “half of higher-education students use AI regularly, with 75% of faculty members agreeing that AI proficiency is crucial for future success.” However, this raises questions about the appropriate use of AI. Rather than copying and pasting assignment answers, use it to understand and teach yourself concepts, and immerse yourself in the topic at hand. Use it to learn, to understand and to absorb. Academic success often requires critical thinking and deep understanding of the topics at hand, so use available resources respectively, and use them to accelerate and elevate your academic standing. Learn to recognize your resources, and use them without exploitation.
AI is the future, and we must learn to respect and utilize it responsibly. Our ability to think and process information is powerful — why give that up to a machine? Before typing simple questions in the ChatGPT browser, use the brain that has been gifted to you. Remember — we have created AI to assist us, not to think for us.
