Artificial Intelligence - Robust or Robbery?

AI has been changing the world in innumerable ways for many years, but it has hit mainstream and is available to everyone everywhere. Students and professors alike use it to aid them in completing all types of work. It can help with research, creating assignments, writing assignments, grading assignments, and much more.

As with any technology, AI can aid in accomplishing your goals or it can quietly sabotage them. It all depends on what you, as a student, are looking to get from your educational experience. Professors are quite aware that students are using AI for their work and even encourage it. It can be very helpful if used as a tool to understand concepts and to correct assignments. It can save time and effort and there is immeasurable value in using such tools. Professors know this. The pitfalls come when AI is being used for everything possible and supplanting a student's relationship with important educational material. Educational robbery!

Using AI to perform duties that are instrumental in learning and mastering certain skills can cheat students out of their education and leave them unqualified for a career that they want. A student needs to be clear on what their goals really are. Where do you want to end up? Why are you going to college or university? Several typical answers are:

• to get a degree for a career
• to expand your mind and find yourself
• to experience what is out there in the world
• to meet many people your own age from similar and different backgrounds
• to do what is expected of you by others (family, parents)
• to provide for your family

As a professor, I see so much potential and incredible opportunity in education with artificial intelligence.  My reservations surface when someone is using it for everything they possibly can and missing out on opportunities for real learning and growth. When they bypass learning key skills and knowledge, what will happen when they are called upon in the future and cannot perform? Can a professor prevent that from happening? Not really. A professor can only present information and opportunities. We can not make you learn, but if you let us, we can be your guide!

Professors can be valuable resources for students by working to identify when AI can be helpful and when it can burgle you. Most professors will welcome the opportunity to guide you on your journey. Ask them!