Technology such as AI (artificial intelligence) has been and continues to be advancing daily.
According to bitkan.com, the concept of artificial intelligence has been around for centuries but it wasn’t until 1950 that Alan Turing published a paper titled “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” in which he proposed a test of machine intelligence called the Turing Test.
“I have seen AI advancing in a relatively quick timeframe, on occasion with no guardrails or limitations placed appropriately. It is an interesting field, and one that can grow and thrive, but limitations need to be put in place to help utilize these tools more appropriately and efficiently,” Jeffrey Jett, English teacher, said.
While technology may be complicated, making use of the technology provided in school is not always an unfortunate thing.
“I use ChatGPT. It is a quick convenient check and resource. I have even asked my students to run their writing through it to find gaps in their mechanics,” Karin Walker, English teacher, said. “It was helpful in identifying repetition, wordiness, tense errors, and low-level word choice.”
With AI becoming popular in schools, it can be simple for students to take advantage of it. According to a Fielder survey, 62% of students have used a form of AI.
“I view it as a helpful tool to help judge my work as a student, but I can see how one could abuse the powers of AI,” Cesar Arciniega, sophomore, said.
Teachers are flexible with the use of AI because it can be seen as a great tool to enhance writing but the effort tends to lessen.
“I think as a teacher I have to look at how to teach the responsible use of technology and how to make it useful for students. It is a new way of getting work completed and I think some students may find it tempting to take advantage of it. Will good students stop putting in the effort? No, they care about learning and want the challenges,” Walker said. “Students who look for shortcuts will always do so and will use all means that are available.”
AI is risky and uncertain but has the potential to change the world in many ways.
“People should realize the rapid pace at which technology is currently advancing. AI itself isn’t a danger, the danger lies with the people who control the AI,” Ubaldo Rodriguez, junior, said. “I see AI being heavily regulated and it being relegated to only a few powerful people/groups.”
Not only has AI begun in schools, but in the workplace.
“AI could affect the workplace negatively by taking many people’s jobs which leads to the weakening of other peoples’ skills,” Arciniega said. “The use of AI should be limited and regulated in the workplace because nothing can replace the brain power of humans.”
Professions such as professors, artists, engineers, and musicians have begun to utilize it.
“Advances in technology always shift jobs. For the jobs being replaced, there will be jobs using the technology,” Walker said. “Students need to be trained to use this AI creatively and productively to be able to qualify for the new jobs.”
While it is a risk that AI leaves many without a job, it could benefit in other areas.
“When we’re talking about AI in general, there are a lot of useful applications of this within the medical field and being able to identify different treatments that can be run and operated on AI models,” Adam Depew, Rhetoric teacher, said.
Though there is excitement for AI potentially solving problems that are beyond the capabilities of humans, one should always be careful about how to use AI to minimize the risks and take advantage of the benefits.
“People could minimize the risks of AI by creating a code of conduct and a measurable ethical standard of practice. (Not allowing hate speech to be generated for example). In addition, AI should utilize public domain works only for generating ideas, works, etc., or have the original artists, writers, etc. grant permission to use their intellectual property for AI generative processes,” Jett said. “AI should be a tool to aid students and writers and not a means of cheating others out of their hard (in some cases life’s) work.”
While there are many factors that go into AI, it is important to not always rely on technology but to use it as a tool to better the future in a positive way.
“I think that technology when used in a meaningful way can greatly expand a person’s capabilities; it’s the Steve Jobs mentality of the computer is like a bicycle for our minds,” Depew said.
