ChatGPT on the Art of Writing

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Educational Advancement

The school's creative method for uncovering Richard's plagiarism deserves recognition. By scrutinizing the edit history and noting the abrupt appearance of text segments, the teacher inferred that the content was likely copied. When asked for the source document from which Richard allegedly derived the text, he failed to produce it.

Richard, while drafting a news story on the basketball season for his journalism class, made use of the detailed game records shared by the coach through school-wide emails. He then utilized ChatGPT as a crucial skill, akin to the significance of PowerPoint in the 1990s. Richard believed that early proficiency in AI tools would greatly enhance his capabilities and future opportunities.

I found myself largely in agreement with Richard's perspectives on AI. In the educational sector, numerous educators have explored and adopted AI technology as a valuable classroom aid. Teachers have utilized ChatGPT to enhance curricula, create illustrative examples, and in some instances, even assist in grading. According to the impact Research/Walton Foundation survey, 88 percent of educators reported a positive impact from AI, underscoring its beneficial role in instruction. These findings align with Richard's views on the growing importance of AI.

Richard demonstrated a level of honesty and rationality often observed among high school students. Many have recognized the limitations of AI detection tools, leading them to question why they should forgo their personal time when AI can articulate their ideas more effectively. However, this realization also underscored the potential issues associated with the misuse of such technology.

Many argue that AI functions as a crutch, offering perfectly crafted sentences that obscure genuine work and hinder the learning process for young adults. Critics also question the technology's capacity to generate well-reasoned arguments, noting that text generators lack the critical thinking skills of humans. As journalist Radolfo Delgado observed, "[ChatGPT] lacked the touch of humanity that was inherently mine"(Forbes). This raises a troubling question: will the ability to write and convey emotions still hold value in the future, or will it become irrelevant? Such concerns evoke a wave of dystopian scenarios.

To satisfy my curiosity, I sought to understand the practical applications of ChatGPT. To make an informed judgment, I needed a deeper insight into its writing capabilities. Consequently, I dedicated my entire Thanksgiving break to drafting a paper that analyzed the impact of AI on work and compared it with a ChatGPT-generated essay on the same topic.

In summary, I corroborate Delgado's assertion that generative AIs produce subpar analytical writing. The resulting paper exhibits a robotic, formulaic style, excessive reliance on summaries, sparse references to studies or statistics, an overuse of subheadings that disrupt continuity, and frequent repetition of previously mentioned information.

Following my experiment with ChatGPT, I established a framework to evaluate when to utilize AI assistance for assignments. For tasks centered on content and factual information, ChatGPT proves invaluable in summarizing intricate events, concepts, or theories. It functions akin to a search engine but offers a more streamlined approach compared to Google, providing direct, concise answers rather than an overwhelming array of unsatisfactory results. This method of learning can significantly reduce the time spent searching for specific topics, such as the impact of the Cultural Revolution on Chinese feminist movements.

AI should be used sparingly for assignments that extend beyond basic summaries and explanations, particularly those requiring critical thinking and the establishment of connections. When tasked with generating nuanced responses to analytical prompts, ChatGPT often produces elaborate sentences failled with abstract concept and assertive tones. However, upon closer examiniation, these outputs frequently amount to little more than superficial statements. OpenAI has deliberately designed their chatbot to minimize personal opinions and avoid substantial arguments, which can render its use in such contexts inefficient and unproductive.

Educators should not discourage students form using ChatGPT, as there is a valuable role for such technologies in modern education. Banning AI in the learning environment would be akin to dismissing nuclear power due to its potential for destructive uses. In fact, labeling ChatGPT as off-limits could merely heighten students' curiosity, leading them to explore it independently without considering its ethical implications. Instead, educators should focus on teching students the appropriate and responsible use of AI tools.

I have gained substantial benefits from ChatGPT's intuitive interface and clear explanations, which dispel any notion that it is merely a gimmick fostering deterimental dependency. Reflecting on how educators once criticized grammar checkers like Grammarly, which are now seamlessly integrated into curriculums with free subscriptions offered to students, I am confident that ChatGPT has similar potential for effective integration.

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