Artificial Intelligence: Helpful or Harmful?

In the past couple of years, the world has seen a rapid increase in the use of artificial intelligence, in schools, businesses, social media, and elsewhere. Forbes predicts, “AI is expected to see an annual growth rate of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030.” But what exactly is AI? According to the University of Illinois Chicago, artificial intelligence “enables machines to learn from experience, adapt to new inputs, and execute tasks resembling human capabilities.” A popular usage of AI among students and teachers is the generative AI software ChatGPT. CNBC says, “Almost half of U.S. teachers and K-12 students say they are using ChatGPT weekly.” 

 At Needham High School, students and teachers alike have seen the effect of AI in school and in our world at large. One Needham High School student claims, “AI has affected my school life as well as my personal life. I sometimes find myself asking random questions to Chat GPT.” In a day and age where students rely heavily on technology for daily assignments and classwork, ChatGPT, which is so readily available, can be hard for some students to resist. Another Needham student mentions, “I feel like people have begun to rely on it more or use it unnecessarily.” However, some Needham students disagree with using AI for schoolwork, explaining, “I don’t think it’s great because it makes kids not do their own work and gives untrue information, which hinders their ability to learn effectively.” Other students agree, saying, “Don’t have [Chat GPT] do it for you; make sure you're still learning. It should be able to answer some things to be able to help you, but not do it for you.” 

Regardless of students' opinions on the use of AI in school, certain applications of artificial intelligence go against the academic integrity policy of Needham. These have become more frequent with the prevalence of AI. The Needham Academic Integrity policy handbook states, “Cheating, plagiarism, and other dishonest behaviors undermine the integrity and credibility of the academic program. Therefore, students are expected to refrain from all types of cheating and plagiarism, including unsanctioned use of technology and allowing others to cheat or plagiarize from them.” According to Needham High School English teacher Mrs. McLaughlin, “I started to notice AI was affecting my student work about a year and a half ago, specifically with written assignments.” In the English Department, the application of generative AI softwares like Chat GPT has become a significant issue. “Unfortunately, I have written more academic misconduct reports within the last year and a half compared to prior school years due to students submitting AI-generated responses.” Because generative AI has the ability to generate responses to virtually anything, some students have begun to turn to it as a writing tool. Mrs McLaughlin explains, “I noticed a student's thesis statement, for example, wasn't aligning with their evidence and their analysis. While ChatGPT can answer a question or prompt, it doesn't develop a nuanced claim or analysis that I'm looking for in student writing.” McLaughlin also mentions that “AI can serve as a launchpad for finding or researching the facts, but it should never be used as the end goal or product to showcase someone's own knowledge and understanding. Students must be able to think critically and use logic/reasoning on their own in order to become independent, opinionated thinkers.” 

Needham students and teachers also have their worries about AI. One  Needham High student explains, “AI is rapidly increasing in its capabilities and I worry that it will get to a point where it’s too much.” Another says,  “I worry it will affect future generations (by) making people more prone to using unnecessary things, which might be worrying.” McLaughlin also expresses her worries about AI, saying, “I can't help but think of George Orwell's 1984 and what the future holds if we become too reliant on technology --- as Eric Fromm wrote in the "Afterword" to 1984, we have to be careful or else people ‘will lose their most human qualities, become soulless automatons, and will not even be aware of it.’” McLaughlin and students raise the important point that although AI can have its benefits for students, “What does AI mean for the future of Needham High School, but also the world?”