As GenAI continues to integrate further into life, whether in school, potential careers or social interactions, students are feeling weary of its impacts. GenAI (Generative AI) refers specifically to an AI algorithm that creates a novel output using outsourced data. Though students see the value in what GenAI could do for us, they are concerned about the ethical ramifications. Even with its convenience, some students feel that the drawbacks of GenAI outweigh the benefits.
GenAI does serve some students well, expanding on their schoolwork. It is more and more common for students to use text-based GenAI as notes, study guides and an interactive way to review information.
“Whenever I need a synonym of something, I can just type in, ‘hey give me words that mean this’, and I get a list of words that I can then plug in,” senior Mack Morrow said. GenAI chatbots are able to substitute for things like a thesaurus or a bulky textbook while studying
Other students are anxious about future professionals’ reliance on GenAI in their education. They worry that education ingrained with GenAI will not produce reliable specialists where they are needed. Frequent GenAI use is often correlated with poor critical thinking skills, making it concerning when people use it to complete important qualifications.
“It’s scary if they’re using [GenAI] to study and do all their work, like our lives are in our hands,” junior Aida Goddard explained. A generation of medical professionals or first responders trained by GenAI could turn dangerous quickly, allowing unqualified people in important fields.
At school, students have noticed their own teachers use GenAI to create class content and grade assignments. Students of these teachers can not help but feel offended by this.
It is a privilege to be taught, and a human experience that cannot be replaced. Students feel it is a shame that teachers are neglecting this.
Students are conflicted on how to plan their future around GenAI’s impact. So many jobs are beginning to be minimized by GenAI, it is difficult for students to know how to train for a career that could change so quickly.
“It’s definitely redirected my career path a couple times, especially at the rate that it’s moving at,” senior Rabira Soka said. It feels like a gamble, hoping the career they are working towards will still exist by the time they enter the field.
Seeing as GenAI finds its way into the lives of the youth, the people of today must remember that AI does not care about you. GenAI does not care about your education, it does not care about your career and it definitely does not care about your relationships. AI is convenient, and may make life much more efficient and streamlined, but the benefits of convenience fail to actually outweigh its unfortunate effects.
