Artificial intelligence (AI) is now more than just a hot topic among computer-savvy individuals. It has become a part of our everyday lives and how we navigate the world around us. Individuals born prior to the early 2000s often found themselves watching shows such as Phil of the Future, Futurama, and the Jetsons, imagining that such technological worlds were only futuristic concepts. Yet, today’s youth are now called the “AI Generation,” where evolving technology is not a futuristic concept but an everyday reality. There is no debate that AI is transforming the world around us at an alarming rate. For many, AI has been a long-awaited natural societal shift, while others have been less receptive to its fast approach.
AI allows technology to execute tasks and jobs that would have traditionally required human intelligence, including problem-solving, reasoning, innovation, and learning. Although AI has been a part of the tech world for quite some time, the public began to take major notice of it in 2022 through more advanced platforms such as ChatGPT, a natural language processing chatbot.
As we continue to enter a world where technology operates all around us, we often find ourselves in a technology paradox. With an appreciation for modern ways of growing, a conflicting question on whether or not its dependency has a parallel detrimental outcome to society in other ways has brought many to this ongoing controversy. AI platforms have sparked debate about their increased use within educational institutions, with valid concerns pertaining to academic dishonesty. A recently coined term, “AI Plagiarism” explains the use of generative AI in producing content that is submitted as individual work. Trends regarding AI have shown us the increasing use of artificial intelligence in helping students with their schoolwork responsibilities. While most studies have indicated that cheating has been an academic problem far before AI students report using AI frequently as a tool to help with research, understanding, and writing. In fact, one study found that around 40 percent of the students in the study reported having used AI tools for some form of school assistance. Within higher education, one study found that more than 50 percent of participants indicated having used some form of AI in the completion of a coursework assignment, although more than 50 percent of those same students stated that they believe the use of AI is a form of cheating or plagiarism.
Aside from the ongoing concern about dishonesty, the heavy reliance on artificial intelligence has posed deeper questions on how future generations may be affected in more latent ways, such as preventing youth from learning to be innovative and obtaining critical thinking skills. Human interaction is a necessary component for gaining emotional intelligence, such as learning body language cues and how to communicate among groups, a component AI removes. Even more concerning, when students develop a heavy reliance on AI technology they may be doing a disservice to their education by shortcutting their learning and yielding a deep understanding of the subject, ultimately diminishing the substance of a college degree, which they will be expected to practice in the workforce.
