From writer to robot: navigating the world of ChatGPT

Ariella Gage '27

Around Campus Page Editor

In technology’s ever-changing state, it can be confusing trying to know when, where and how to use artificial intelligence, more commonly known as AI. Most students have heard of ChatGPT and many have used it, but how much is too much? Where do we draw the line when it comes to using AI in the classroom?

Released in 2022, ChatGPT is a generative AI software designed for various tasks such as writing, summarizing and answering questions. However, do not overestimate AI’s true intelligence. (Spoiler: it won’t write that English essay better than you can).

A student debates using ChatGPT or their own creativity

We tend to humanize ChatGPT or any AI platform, thinking it has an innate sense of knowledge it can teach us, but in reality, AI works off the internet. It simply organizes information collected from online to best answer your prompt. Since it gathers data from various sources, this sometimes results in plagiarism and inaccuracies. It’s also known for “hallucination,” a phenomenon where AI makes up baseless facts.

With all this complexity, what is a student to do? No one knows what the future will hold, but for now, write those essays with your own brain. Not only is it against school rules to have AI websites such as ChatGPT write for you, or even text spinners such as Grammarly edit your writing for you, but it also completely overlooks the aspect of human emotion in writing.

Despite all it can do, one thing that AI cannot replicate is the authenticity of the human experience that shines through in a real person’s writing. What beauty is left in writing if it doesn’t reveal glimpses of the author’s life and experience? Motivating yourself to write authentically, without the help of AI, is all about cultivating your own unique voice and expressing your individuality.

From a teacher’s perspective, “offering creative writing [assignments] is a way to help [students] develop a fondness for writing. If you can enjoy what you are producing, you will want to produce it yourself,” said sophomore English teacher Mx. Hernandez.

To help students better understand the shortcomings of AI , particularly in writing essays, some teachers at Louisville are encouraging students to use AI as a learning opportunity instead of as a cheating opportunity.

Despite all it can do, one thing that AI cannot replicate is the authenticity of the human experience that shines through in a real person’s writing. What beauty is left in writing if it doesn’t reveal glimpses of the author’s life and experience? Motivating yourself to write authentically, without the help of AI, is all about cultivating your own unique voice and expressing your individuality.

From a teacher’s perspective, “offering creative writing [assignments] is a way to help [students] develop a fondness for writing. If you can enjoy what you are producing, you will want to produce it yourself,” said sophomore English teacher Mx. Hernandez.

To help students better understand the shortcomings of AI , particularly in writing essays, some teachers at Louisville are encouraging students to use AI as a learning opportunity instead of as a cheating opportunity.

“I’ve considered potentially showing an AI-written essay and going through and thinking, ‘Ok, what is it missing, what is it lacking, where can we as humans add our own element into this?’” shared Mx. Hernandez.

The next time you think about doing your homework with ChatGPT, remember that you can write it and edit it better yourself. So go out there and learn how to write, because you are so much smarter than AI!