ChatGPT: A Student’s Friend or Foe?

Plagiarism methods and writing shortcuts are prevalent among students. Yet so far, no system has been foolproof. Incriminating features have been discovered through plagiarism detection devices or based on formatting, style change, and language usage within the text. However, a new artificial general intelligence (AGI) system, ChatGPT, has warped all perceptions of plagiarism by passing through detectors and replicating natural human speech. According to Britannica, ChatGPT is a text-based generative AI system that can connect with the user through conversational language. The bot's natural language has made it a powerful tool for many, giving astute insight and flexibility to the asks of the user. Nonetheless, an uproar from academic professionals has sparked over the chatbot.

Although somewhat eerie, ChatGPT’s humanlike capabilities are what caught the attention of the public when it was released in November of 2022. Curiosity pushes many, specifically students, to experiment with the system. Chief technology officer of OpenAI, Mira Murati, is optimistic about the usage of the system within schools. Murati states that tools like ChatGPT cater concepts to the individual and encourages students to customize learning.

Personalized education is one of the key advantages surrounding ChatGPT. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it a challenge to connect students to professors and develop individualized learning paths. According to the IEEE Xplore article, “Personalized Education in the Artificial Intelligence Era: What to Expect Next”, the pandemic has created a lack of personnel and access to essential classroom materials, contributing to the rise of machine learning. ChatGPT enables students to work at their own pace, with its constant flow of ideas and information that the student can turn to, even without being in a classroom near a professor.

The company that created and operates ChatGPT, OpenAI, states that its goal is to build a functioning autonomous system that can benefit humans in any situation, including cutting down on work and writing time. Yet to most professors, putting in the effort and time commitment on an assignment is valued more than efficiency. ChatGPT also does not inherently challenge the user and may dampen student motivation due to the isolation of its usage. IEEE Xplore stated that student interactions are a crucial part of education, peer motivation, and collaborative learning. Additionally, many professors argue that ChatGPT compromises the integrity of the individual and institution, stunts original thinking, and increases the likelihood of cheating.

Although the future of ChatGPT is unknown, it’s possible that it will become more normalized and popular in schools. Professors' wary opinions may change and they may realize the system's potential. Preventing students from manipulating ChatGPT presents a challenge, but if we learn honest and resourceful ways to use it, it has the power to revolutionize the way we approach education.