Oleg is having trouble getting started on his final language arts paper. He really needs a good grade to pass the class, but he doesn’t know what to write! He has heard from friends that you can use artificial intelligence to help write essays. Oleg already uses different websites and applications to search for ideas and check his work. Nonetheless, he’s worried his teacher would think he was cheating.

The kind of artificial intelligence (AI) Oleg is thinking of using is called a “large language model” (LLM). It is a type of AI that is very advanced at understanding and writing language. It is “large” in the sense that it uses billions of examples of texts written by others to predict how a new text should be written. When the popular LLM, ChatGPT, was released to the public for free in 2022, school leaders and teachers had different reactions. Some educators embraced the technology, believing that modern students need to learn how to use these new tools. Others were more cautious. Some school districts blocked AI websites and looked for programs that could detect if students used AI in their work. 

Opponents of AI note that students aren’t allowed to copy essays of other students, so why would essays written by ChatGPT be different? They believe using AI for schoolwork is simply cheating. These critics point out that the whole purpose of writing school essays is for students to think through important issues and to improve their writing skills through practice. They worry that using AI will decrease actual human intelligence and creativity. Critics also think it could keep students from learning how to think for themselves and to work hard. Using these tools, they say, is also unfair to students who put in the effort to write essays on their own. 

Supporters of AI argue that using it for school work is a natural development in the modern world, like using advanced calculators for complex math problems or the internet to research information. They are inclined to view AI as just another tool that students need to learn how to use. After all, students will be able to use AI in their work as adults, so why not prepare students for that world? Also, some suggest that by drawing on huge sources of information, AI will provide a more thorough response. So, students will learn more. Supporters likewise point out that teachers cannot always be available to answer questions or help students with a project. They think AI can be a helpful supplement to the teacher. 

What do you think about using artificial intelligence for school assignments? Is it cheating? Is it a good thing or a bad thing for students? Should it be allowed or prohibited by schools?