The Pros and Cons of AI

Written by: Kieran Roy

Edited by: Zara Ahluwalia 

AI is changing the way we learn, communicate, and write. As these tools become more common, HDSB is making sure students can use them safely and effectively. But with great power comes great responsibility, as AI raises concerns about privacy, ethics, and academic honesty.

AI is a very powerful tool. It can provide explanations on difficult topics, suggest study tips, and quiz students on the material. AI can also speed up research, with Perplexity helping students find information online. DALL-E and similar image generators help students generate unique images and artwork for presentations. 

There are downsides to using AI however. AI tools collect user info which has many privacy concerns. To protect students, HDSB only allows the use of approved AI tools (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, Perplexity, MagicWrite, and MagicSchool). Another concern is an overreliance on artificial intelligence. Students should use it to support their work, instead of replacing critical thinking, problem-solving, or creativity. 

Academic honesty is also an issue with AI. Presenting AI content as your own is plagiarism, and can have serious consequences. It also prevents students from learning the material fully. AI may provide false or biased information, so students should always double check AI info based on reliable sources.

HDSB supports innovation while ensuring students use AI responsibly and safely. Current policies allow generative AI use only when:

• A teacher approves it

• It follows the teacher’s guidelines

• It meets age limits and restrictions set by the tool and HDSB

• It follows all HDSB’s policies including academic honesty, assessment and evaluation

• Signed parental/guardian consent

A teacher wishing to use GenAI in their classroom with students will send a consent letter home for parents/guardians to review. This must be done for every class/course where GenAI is planning to be utilized.

Students can benefit from AI in their learning, but they must use it responsibly, think critically, and follow academic honesty guidelines.