Having AI write your essay is not the flex you think it is

Theadvancement of artificial intelligence has caused controversy in many areas, from AI making art based from existing works to AI that can write full essays. ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that was launched at the end of 2022 and has recently garnered lots of attention from educators since it allows users to create essays written as if done by students. It is also very accessible to students as it is a free program.

The reaction to ChatGPT has been varied. Some educators and educational institutions seek to ban the program, as it can be used to cheat. Submitting an essay written by an AI program for grades and credits is a form of plagiarism, since it is not content written by the person turning it in. Programs are being developed in response that would have the ability to check if a piece was written by AI, similar to the existing programs that check if pieces are plagiarized from sources online. Others view it as a tool, and are finding ways to show students how to utilize it positively, creating boundaries so that students still create their own work.

While the pandemic and online learning saw a shift to take-home exams and essays as opposed to inperson timed exams, the existence of an AI program that can write a student’s final exam in a mere fraction of the time may lead to a turn back to in-person or proctored exams. Educators that use the program seek to introduce students to technology that they will likely interact with in the workplace. Educators who ban the program fear students cutting corners and cheating.

Since the pandemic, students have been feeling overwhelmed, drained, and fatigued in many ways. The idea of being able to create an essay using AI to save time and stress while still getting a decent grade feels really attractive.

Even without considering the use of AI plagiarism, there are important reasons why students need to resist the temptation to let ChatGPT boost assignments. In the end, copying an essay from a friend or an AI amounts to the same thing: no engagement with the material and not learning the lesson the assignment was meant to be about. The purpose of higher education is to learn the process of gaining knowledge, rather than a diploma. The essay format involves engagement with course material while developing and defending opinions through research. Cutting corners with ChatGPT robs the student of class lessons and the skills necessary to think for oneself.

There are useful and positive ways to use AI tools to enhance learning and engage deeper with material being presented, but having ChatGPT give you a completed essay to turn in is certainly not one of them.

Colin Ahern, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com