Editor’s Note: The subsequent piece is the first of a trilogy of Perspectives from the Social Institute concerning artificial intelligence.
Did you realize that artificial intelligence has influenced students’ interactions for many years? The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) was introduced in the mid-20th century by computer scientist John McCarthy, and since then, AI has undergone significant evolution. From Alan Turing’s proposition of The Imitation Game, which assesses machine intelligence, to industries adopting AI for automation and process enhancement to individuals utilizing it on their personal gadgets.
On a daily basis, students encounter AI whenever they engage in social media, play games with friends, stream their preferred movies or shows on Netflix, or even make purchases on Amazon. While AI assists in customizing student experiences, it does so by heavily depending on collecting personal data, such as names, addresses, financial details, and even medical records. This underscores the importance of empowering students to safeguard their private information and be conscious of their screen time.
Although artificial intelligence may appear to have recently become pervasive in our lives, is that truly the case?
AI is omnipresent from the moment students awaken
“The theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.”
The Oxford Dictionary
With this perspective, it may not be surprising to discover that almost from the time students wake up, they are engaging with artificial intelligence.
According to Common Sense Research, 43% of tweens (ages 8-12) and 95% of teens (ages 13-18) possess and utilize their own smartphones. Since many students use their phones as alarm clocks, these devices are frequently the first thing they reach for in the morning. When they unlock their phones to silence the alarm or browse through TikTok or Instagram, it is artificial intelligence that enables the facial recognition on their devices. Hence, within the initial moments of waking up, students are exposed to AI.
Now, let’s delve into TikTok and Instagram. Prior to getting out of bed to prepare for school, students might scroll through, like posts, comment on videos, and follow accounts. AI captures all of this activity to personalize what a student continues to view in their social media feeds. AI monitors students’ actions and determines what to display next to sustain their interest or send notifications to draw them back.
Upon reaching school, ChatGPT appears to dominate discussions. Schools ponder whether to permit or prohibit ChatGPT, as some educational systems attempted in early 2023. Educators—who may employ it for lesson preparation—question whether students should utilize it for certain (but definitely not all) school tasks. Beneath all this lies the persistent query in teachers’ minds: “Did my students craft this essay or did they rely on ChatGPT?”
While this concern is valid, ChatGPT, one of the most conspicuous forms of artificial intelligence, can foster critical thinking by posing insightful queries on a specific topic. According to Kathy Hirsh-Paesk, a psychology professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, “ChatGPT encourages students to pose more refined questions and subsequently defend those queries, which could aid them in becoming authentic scientists.”
So, what is the remedy for empowering students to navigate a world increasingly saturated with artificial intelligence in their daily lives?
Setting high standards for navigating AI positively
Artificial intelligence is neither inherently good nor bad. It offers advantages, such as the convenience of facial recognition or inquiring about the weather from Alexa. While traversing social media, AI’s capacity to recommend content that might pique our interest facilitates exploration of new hobbies we may not have been aware of previously. Nevertheless, it is crucial to engage with artificial intelligence in constructive ways.
Due to the captivating nature of the interplay between AI and social media, empowering students with contemporary life skills that aid them in upholding high standards while navigating social media and technology has never been more crucial. One such standard that equips students against addictive algorithms is finding a balance. This entails furnishing students with the abilities and resources to manage the time spent on social media alongside their daily obligations, schoolwork, and in-person interactions with friends and family.
These life skills not only empower students as they navigate their favorite applications like TikTok or Snapchat but also prepare them to make principled decisions concerning ChatGPT. Empower your students with these contemporary life skills so that when confronted with ChatGPT, they approach it ethically:
- Critical Thinking: Ensure your students do not unquestioningly accept everything ChatGPT asserts. Despite its intelligence, it can occasionally err. It is advisable to corroborate the information with credible sources to verify its accuracy.
- Responsible Decision-Making: AI tools, like ChatGPT, can be highly beneficial for studying and enjoying time with friends. However, it is imperative to caution students against using AI in a manner that could be hurtful to others or unethical.
- Self-Awareness: Remind your students that AI, such as ChatGPT, may exhibit biases due to the viewpoints of its creators. Consequently, they should exercise caution in formulating queries to avoid receiving biased or unjust responses.
- Utilizing Tech for Positive Purposes: Encourage your students to utilize ChatGPT for constructive endeavors! They can leverage it to aid with homework, enhance their language skills, or even acquire new knowledge. There are numerous innovative and beneficial ways for them to leverage AI to enhance their learning experience.
In The Social Institute’s collaborative learning platform, #WinAtSocial, over 2,000 high schoolers deliberated on the role of artificial intelligence in their lives and disclosed that nearly 50% of them desire their schools to “permit ChatGPT and instruct them on its proper usage.”
From dawn to dusk, artificial intelligence permeates students’ lives, and its presence is enduring. As educators, how will you connect with students where they are and empower them to navigate this ever-evolving technology in constructive ways? Reach out to The Social Institute to explore a favorable approach to technology and social media.
Laura Tierney
Laura Tierney is the Founder and CEO of The Social Institute, empowering students and their mentors to navigate social media and technology in constructive, principled manners.
