ChatGPT, a language processing tool capable of mimicking abilities once considered only human, has shocked the education community with its ability to compose natural-sounding essays and papers. ChatGPT’s ability to do this has called into question the purpose of the educational system, and how it could be made better. Let’s talk about ChatGPT and our education system as a whole.

Let’s review. ChatGPT is a language processing and generating artificial intelligence chatbot created by OpenAI. OpenAI released it on November 30, 2022, and has since shown it many capabilities, including the ability to write code, essays, and emails and summarize, break down, and teach information. Both the powers of breaking down information and writing this information into traditional forms of showing learning, such as papers and essays have created a variety of reactions among the education community, specifically on the collegiate level. The tool has spawned two very different realities: cheating and a complete change in how we are taught and learned. Responses to these realities are often opposing. For example, many universities have created regulations on the use of ChatGPT for students and some teachers have taken to incorporating ChatGPT into their lesson plans. But what does this tell us about the purposes of the education system, and how it can and should evolve?

So, what is the purpose of the educational system? Logically, the educational system’s purpose is to provide an overview and comprehension of skills and knowledge needed to be successful in a career or as a citizen. However, education, at least in the U.S. can’t truly have a universal definition, because education is not consistent federally, and is decided at the state and community level. For example, social studies requirements are vastly different depending on the state. Many states don’t have legislation that requires that parts of international and U.S. history are even taught. One of these specific gaps in education is education on the Holocaust, which is not required in many states to be taught. In addition to lapses in curriculum, recent bans on material highlighting the experiences of people of color and/or LGBTQIIA+ individuals have further put into question the universality of education. The official purpose of the U.S. The Department of Education is, “to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.” For the purpose of this article, let’s assume that the overall purpose of education is to provide an overview and comprehension of skills and knowledge needed to be successful in a career or as a citizen. 

In reality, this goal isn’t literal. It’s translated into years of education, which will undoubtedly include a lot of tests. Some standardized, some in the form of essays or papers, and some that will make or break what classes you take for the next few years. But, if ChatGPT can pass the literacy test of creating a somewhat cohesive essay, what is the purpose of learning how to write? And is that the purpose?

Writing definitely has its purpose. It’s an effective part of human communication, and while ChatGPT might be able to write your essay for you, at the end of the day you will still need to communicate. You will still need to summarize your lesson so you can take effective notes and communicate with your future self. You will still need to be able to create a thesis statement and be able to communicate it effectively to your audience, whether in the form of a speech, presentation, or essay. So while ChatGPT can effectively write the high school essay and do somewhat reliably well, it doesn’t take away the need to communicate with your audience effectively. And because of this, the goal of the education system can’t just be “provide an overview and comprehension of skills and knowledge needed to be successful in a career or as a citizen.” One of the specific skills highlighted in our national educational standards must be teaching effective literary communication. Not just because it is a form of communication, but because it shows up everywhere, and communication through language is one of the skills that separates humans as mammals. Our communication through communication must be preserved to also preserve our humanness. 

While high school students have been trying to break the high school essay for years, ChatGPT really seems to be the thing that has done it. But it just might cause a shift in the education system as a whole. And that’s something pretty special.