(Im)Possibilities

Being a student while the popularity and usage of AI (artificial intelligence) is on the rise has been a really unique and interesting experience. While many people argue that AI is used by students to cheat, which is true and a big problem for academia, AI can be used in a responsible way that helps people be more efficient, whether it be in their jobs, schoolwork, or everyday tasks.

            I believe that one of the major issues that we all have when talking about AI is acknowledging that it is a nuanced subject. AI tends to receive two very different descriptions/opinions: 1) AI is evil and it is going to take over the world and destroy humanity, or 2) AI is really good and will help humans advance in society. Before I continue with my essay, I want to make it clear that while I’m going to discuss positives of AI, that doesn’t mean that there are no negatives. And the positives can’t cancel out the negatives, and vice versa. I also believe that AI is a useful tool, but it can’t do everything for us.

            First, I want to share my own experiences with using AI as a student. I am an English major, so a majority of my assignments are reading and writing based. I have used ChatGPT many times to summarize readings that I’m having a hard time understanding. I found this especially helpful last semester when I was taking medieval and renaissance literature and eighteenth-century literature. Before taking these classes, I had no experience reading anything from that time period and it took me a while to get comfortable reading that kind of writing. When I would read through something, I’d have ChatGPT give me a short summary, and then I’d read over it again. By going through this process, I felt so much more confident and comfortable in my understanding of what I was reading, as well as in my writing. It would help me in understanding the order of events in a story, and it would remind me if I had missed learning about a character or point out an allusion I didn’t pick up on. I like to use the analogy of ChatGPT being like guard-rails at a bowling alley; if you slip it’ll help you get back on track, but you also can’t rely on them to do all the work for you.

            While it is true that many students use AI to cheat on assignments, papers, and tests, many students use AI as a tool that can help them complete assignments more efficiently and thoroughly. I gave a brief explanation of how I, as an English student, utilizes AI, but I wanted to represent how some of my peers use AI to assist them with schoolwork, so I wanted to discuss some of the responses from our class’s Padlet question: “How do you currently use AI?” A few of my classmates say they normally use ChatGPT to give them inspiration for essay topics. A lot of my classmates also mentioned using Grammarly, which automatically fixes grammar mistakes in their writing. These are pretty innocent uses of AI that don’t do all the work for you or don’t require zero brain power, and I feel like most students (maybe) teachers/professors would agree that using AI in those ways is not cheating.

            One article that we read and discussed in class features anecdotes from people who have utilized AI to help them do their jobs more efficiently. This article is titled “Meet the ‘super users’ who tap AI to get ahead at work,” specifically, there is a primary focus on neurodivergent people and how they utilize AI in a way that is especially helpful to people with ADHD. One woman, Becca Chambers, a former chief communications officer, describes AI as a tool that “masks her neurodivergence”.

She has even made a BeccaGPT bot, which she trained with a year’s worth of her writing and podcasts to help brainstorm and edit content for social media using her voice. BeccaGPT inspired her to create bots for company executives so her team can ghostwrite for them.

Another “super-user” featured in this article named Lisa Ross, who also has ADHD, claims that using AI has “doubled their productivity for almost everything.” Specifically, in this article they describe that AI assists them to, “create content using specific frameworks, to prepare for tough conversations, to help with project and strategic planning, and to determine impact.” Ross has been able to utilize in ways for increasing their productivity at work, as well as assisting them through difficult life scenarios.

            Despite my paper’s focus on the benefits of AI for students and learning, I want to also discuss the wide variety of fields that AI can be beneficial in. Another piece of writing we read and discussed in class highlighted a positive impact AI has made in the medical field. A company called VisualDx created a derm expert product with AI that has helped identify skin cancer and other skin diseases on individuals. Their website illustrates how their product allows you to take a picture of your skin with your phone and upload it to the DermExpert which analyzes the photo with AI image search first and then is verified and explained to you by an actual human dermatologist.

            To conclude my essay, I wanted to return to the idea that any conversation we have about AI is going to be nuanced because it is a deeply complicated subject. So, no matter what kinds of consequences we reap from using AI, it has still proven to be a powerful and useful tool when it is in the right hands.

I wouldn’t say that I have had a profound revelation about AI, either in terms of using it or learning about it. I believe AI has its benefits. I can understand the stance of those who demonize AI, and it is fascinating to observe. Sometimes I wonder if I didn’t receive the memo about something AI has done and that I don’t know of. When I watch movies that depict artificial intelligence or robots taking over the world, and I hear people claim that we are getting closer to that reality, I don’t understand. In my opinion, we are far from such a scenario, and it won’t be a reality for a long time. This perspective relates to the concept of the “Art of Scaring” by Skrzypczyk. I think many people tend to attribute too much power to today’s artificial intelligence, but I believe we are simply not there yet.

In the few weeks I’ve been in this class, I have been exposed to new ideas and different ways of thinking, thanks to my peers as well as the texts, media, and literature we engage with. 

I feel lucky to be living in an era where AI is readily accessible, especially as we discuss its societal impacts and ethical considerations. Sometimes, I feel a bit sad; maybe because I wish I could see what the future holds for AI when today’s capabilities are viewed as outdated. However, this feeling also fills me with hope and excitement for the advancements I will witness in my lifetime. I often joke about how students before me whether in high school or higher education managed their work without tools like ChatGPT. AI has helped me in many ways. For example, AI-based tools have helped me in planning and organizing my thoughts on assignments when I don’t know where to begin. This assistance has not only saved me time but also improved the quality of my work.

While reading the article “Can A.I. Be Blamed for a Teen’s Suicide?” from The New York Times, I encountered a statement that surprised me: “The technology is also improving quickly. Today’s A.I. companions can remember past conversations, adapt to users’ communication styles, role-play as celebrities or historical figures, and chat fluently about nearly any subject. Some can send A.I.-generated ‘selfies’ to users or communicate with them using lifelike synthetic voices.” I was honestly shocked, I didn’t know that advanced tools like these existed and continue to advance. I found the different ways A.I. is being designed and used today to be fascinating. My experience with artificial intelligence has been limited to platforms like ChatGPT, Copilot, and other well-known A.I. sites, which now seem basic compared to these imaginative tools that can send A.I. selfies or engage in conversations with realistic voices.

The article, “Can A.I. Be Blamed for a Teen’s Suicide?”  also presented conflicting perspectives about AI companions: “It’s going to be super, super helpful to a lot of people who are lonely or depressed,” it says, yet it also warns that “A.I. companions may actually worsen isolation, by replacing human relationships with artificial ones.” I see both sides of this argument, one suggests lonely people might benefit from AI companionship, while the other highlights the potential danger of becoming too dependent on AI companionship. I believe two things can be true at the same time. Maybe with better regulations and stricter oversight, lonely individuals can benefit from these AI companions without becoming overly dependent. I don’t think we should demonize artificial companionship simply because it seems unfamiliar. If some people truly value these relationships, who are we to say that is not valid? The situation described in the article is tragic but highlights valuable lessons on the need for responsible AI development.

In class, we discussed various media and ideas that explore both the promises and pitfalls associated with Artificial Intelligence. One meaningful moment was when we talked about the environmental implications of AI. Before that class discussion, I was unaware of the large amounts of water required to cool the data centers that power searches on AI platforms like ChatGPT. I was very surprised to learn this fact, and it has made me become more aware of the ethical considerations surrounding AI, as well as the negative environmental impacts that many of us often forget. AI’s role in fields like healthcare is another scope that shows how artificial intelligence is incorporated into our society whether we like it or not and whether we recognize it or not. In class, we also discussed how an AI model was trained to detect cancer but mistook the presence of a ruler in an image as an indicator of cancer. Though these mistakes were made in good faith, they show the importance of careful and ethical AI use, especially in critical areas like healthcare. During the same class discussion, we also talked about how a significant part of the healthcare system—healthcare insurance companies—uses AI in ways that can be harmful to their customers, such as denying coverage based on algorithmic predictions. I believe this is where people become wary of artificial intelligence. This concern arises because AI models are essentially interacting with real lives. I also struggle to grapple with this issue because when a human makes a mistake that causes harm to someone, they can be held accountable. However, in the case of artificial intelligence, when mistakes occur, it’s challenging to hold AI accountable. We typically have to go back to the human who trained the AI or the human who created it. This is something I find difficult to reconcile, especially given the rise of artificial intelligence. Once AI is created and released to the public, if someone misuses it, can we blame the creator? After all, they did not intend for their AI to be used in a harmful way.

Yet, even with the limitations of present-day AI, I find myself hopeful. The future of AI is unknown, but its potential to help people connect, learn, and grow inspires me to stay curious and open-minded about what’s to come. Overall, my experiences with AI have been more encouraging than discouraging. 

The creation of Artificial Intelligence, mostly known as AI, has raised important  questions regarding ethical and humane practices in fast growing society. While some of its applications propose new practices and perspectives, there’s also a profound danger that comes with the potential harm that can be caused with such a tool at the tip of anyone’s fingers. Ultimately, what I find most interesting about AI is the ability for it to offer global evidence for vast issues that many people are uneducated on. I feel like one thing that can be eye opening and incredibly hopeful is developing many solutions to environmental issues and supporting global challenges. In the article, Fixing AI’s Energy Crisis explores how AI can be used to optimize energy usage and reduce carbon footprints, pushing for a more green environment. The potential for AI to help us address these issues still remains a mystery as this technology is so new. The hope lies in the ongoing development of this tool and hopefully will be placed in the power of people who won’t abuse it. As outlined in AI Snake Oil by Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor, the use of AI in healthcare and environmental sciences offers the ability to address diagnosis and offer solutions to health issues. In this aspect, this is the future where technology can take the place of people and play in the field of bringing positive change instead of negativity. This deeply aligns with the belief that AI, when used responsibly and ethically, can in fact offer solutions to long term problems and create new opportunities for everyone. However, with these possibilities, there are significant challenges seen in this article about the algorithmic scheme and how AI can reinforce discrimination that can cause unnecessary harm. 

Similarly to worldly issues, the growing use of AI in education has been a part of broader conversation regarding ethical dilemmas. I feel that if you enter any High School or even middle school they can attest to have used some form of AI. The most popular tools like ChatGPT are useful for students, but raises growing concerns and issues of academic integrity and plagiarism. Generations have been widely exposed to this new way of learning and has drawn a line between human creativity and a dependence on technology. The rise of AI in college reflects another struggle of trying to balance using the technology in a helpful way while also trying to challenge the machines to develop a new learning approach. I feel that AI has been introduced to the worst possible generation as we are a result of numerous social disparities and we can already see people in power abuse their power with this technology. The hope lies with AI being used effectively and ethically but it has to be taught first in the classrooms. How do we as a generation learn if we can have something do it for us? Like any tool, it must be carefully designed and monitored to ensure there is no harm pushed on communities. The psychological impact of technology on education I feel is not talked about enough and the immediacy of AI-generated responses often diminish students’ critical thinking skills that makes them rely too heavily on others’ ideas and not their own. AI’s capacity to support these developments is something that has been in discussion for finding solutions to deeper issues that stem from this. In exploring AI, the most inspiring things directly influenced by this capacity of people turning to AI to provide answers is guiding us to think more critically on what we put out for viewers to see. I believe AI has the power to empower individuals and communities but it’s with an understanding that many of these empowerments are not our own ideas. 

The last area I want to touch on is one I’m extremely passionate about and have actually been involved in projects regarding this topic of creating more inclusive systems. One thing I can attest to is the most encouraging aspect of AI is the ability to transform certain organizations and institutions by increasing accessibility to marginalized communities. In the article, VisualDx, a Rochester-based company, and its DermExpert Product, shows AI being used to address the issues regarding the lack of diversity in medical data. DermExpert’s use of AI counted towards a wide variety of skin tones that highlights the positive use of AI within our healthcare system. Historically speaking, medical systems have often focused on lighter skin tones, which ultimately diminished any people with darker skin tones at a disadvantage when it came to diagnosis. This ability to recognize diversity is honestly inspiring and encouraging within this significant field and makes me hopeful for our future generations. Along with the hopeful impact of AI addressing systemic inequalities, the Justice Department Sues RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Million of American Renters, offers a deeper inside to AI’s potential to perpetuate a system of inequalities. There is harm and terror in every aspect of life but very much so in the discussion of AI. The RealPage touched on some extremely important topics of AI being misused to enforce discrimination by singling out marginalized communities. These harmful acts of AI highlight the need for establishing ethical guidelines for the use of this technology and the need for extreme regulation. On the hopeful side that I am passionate about, the increasing public awareness that these issues drive calls for even more need for regulation and legitimization. By demanding stronger frameworks and consequences AI’s potential to promote a more equitable system is then indefinite. The increasing public demand for transparency in how AI collects, stores, and even uses data pushes people to challenge these notions and pushes developers to think more critically about these issues. Despite the challenges and ethical concerns around this and AI, I remain hopeful that with enough development, regulation, and responsibility, AI can be a powerful tool for positive change, fostering new generations with equality, transparency, and progress for all.

From what I’ve learned so far, I truly do believe that AI may very well be the precipice of our generation. I believe it will be a turning point that will either further advance us in every industry, or begin the end of life as we know it. I personally am against the use of AI, though I can see the possibilities and the good AI can do if used properly. Artificial Intelligence  is simply a series of code that is both meant to recognize and recreate patterns, it’s a replication or reflection of whoever their creator was and what their goal was, a machine made to do what humans normally would.  AI in general, isn’t a relatively new concept, in fact we’ve been theorizing and worrying about artificial intelligence since the 1950’s when Alan Turning first wondered “could machines think” (I found this in ‘The birth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) research | Science and Technology’ a short article backed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory which briefly covers the history of AI). While there have been a lot of breakthroughs with this technology as of late, we’ve been working on it for a while now. It’s not an entirely new concept anymore and it has yet to be fully normalized. It is, however, a technology we’ve been using to make our lives more convenient throughout the past couple decades. The Roomba, for example, began development in the 1990’s before it was released in 2002, it’s a robot that was programmed using artificial intelligence to vacuum so that we don’t have to. Comfort and convenience is a perfect model of business that companies love to explore and strive in. Thanks to AI, there is a whole new window for products that are meant to make things even simpler and easier or help create and advance in technology and medicine.  

Artificial intelligence has such a large window of available products that can be expanded on, that there’s an entire market for AI toilets, toasters, and fridges. Their very lucrative as well, roomba alone has generated almost a billion dollars in sales. Companies like BJ’s and Target use AI chatbots to help their customers find products, some stores like Stop & Shop have robots that move throughout the store to help customers. It’s even in our search engines now. I’m going to use google for an example this time. If you search something on google, it will have an AI overview section to briefly explain the topic you’re looking into. I searched ‘Driving jobs’ on their web browser, the first that came up was an ‘*AI Overview’ that listed four different routes that I can take along with links to all the jobs related to my search and how to get those kinds of jobs. It even listed some tips on other jobs that are less popular along with very clear instructions on how I should get my drivers license along with a CDL (commercial drivers license) if I so choose. Corporations like Boston Dynamics’ and ‘TESLA’  though, are choosing to walk on a different path. They are working on creating humanoid bodies so that their AI can replace and aid us in our work and tasks throughout the day to help us save time and energy, enhance our work quality, or even replace human workers for jobs that may be deemed too dangerous or inefficient to be in. Boston Dynamics is a company that is creating and has made quite the impressive line up of machines. Within just the past decade they made a robot dog named Spot, a small robot dog which was generally created to inspect industrial sites, carry out hazardous missions, and make deliveries. They can even cross coordinate and travel in packs if need be in order to complete their tasks. Boston dynamics has received DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency) funding and have begun to work on a project known as ‘Big Dog’ (which is basically a much larger version spot that will basically be a walking mechanical mule for rough terrain) for the military, along with Atlas (the most flexible humanoid robot so far). Tesla on the other hand is working on a robot called Optimus, a robot that has a really similar resemblance to Sunny from IROBOT, and is essentially a much slower version of Sunny. Tesla also creates multiple lines of self-driving cars, powered by AI.

Going off of the self-driving cars, there are plenty of companies working on using AI in Semi-trucks as well. There are typically 500,000 accidents a year caused by or involved with these Semi’s, with around 5,000 fatalities and 100,000 injuries as a result. Companies like Aurora, Volvo, and Kodiak are already working on completely autonomous trucks. While AI shouldn’t have complete control over the vehicle, giving drivers the option for an artificial co-pilot could help mitigate the risks for all drivers on the road, depending on the conditions. It can and has even been used for medical purposes. The movie IROBOT would be the perfect example to see all the benefits. It shows self-driving cars and trucks, the humanoid AI, along with the possible medical applications of AI like prosthesis. It’s a movie that came out in 2004 starring Will Smith, based off of the novel ‘Caves of Steel’ by Isaac Asimov, which shows a future powered and influenced by AI and the related products. If you exclude the general premise, this movie showcases plenty of the possible uses for AI to benefit humanity as a whole, it even showed some of the downside though we will be covering that at a later date.  Artificial Intelligence, if used properly, can be used to make our lives safer, more convenient, and much more productive

As the capabilities of AI technology continue to grow at a rapid rate, there is much to explore regarding just what this new technology is able to do. With this newfound technology comes the opinions of those newly exposed to it, leaving room for debate about what is considered “right” and “wrong”. As I delve into the vast capabilities of AI and the benefits of this technology, I find it important to state that I am not fond of artificial intelligence and find the cons to majorly outweigh the benefits. Although I am not in support of the use and rapid development of AI, I feel it is important to analyze the positives of AI and recognize the way this technology can help people. By looking deeper into classroom resources and researching what AI can do, I believe there will be evidence found that allows me to better understand this technology and appreciate what it can do for our society.

One of the major fields in which AI is becoming increasingly popular is the medical field. The development of AI tools in the medical field has been a massive change in the way that our medical professionals treat patients and ensure their recovery. In the resource entitled, “VisualDx, a Rochester-based company, and its DermExpert Product that has quite purposely sought to be inclusive with the incredible variety of human complexions,” The website discusses a new app in which individuals may take photos of their skin conditions and be diagnosed with dermatological conditions. The app was specifically designed so that people of color will not be marginalized and can use the app to be properly diagnosed. The description of the app states, “For over 20 years, VisualDx has been committed to providing a comprehensive resource for medical images across all skin types. We know the importance of helping healthcare professionals with the challenges and subtleties of recognizing skin changes in patients with darker skin pigmentation”(visualDx). I find this technology to be incredibly beneficial, being that individuals are working to develop a program in which people of all skin types can be properly diagnosed and treated. It is important to note that there have been issues with AI marginalizing people of color and treating these individuals with bias. In the article entitled, “Medical Algorithms Are Failing Communities of Color” the text states, “In fact, a 2019 study found that risk-prediction algorithms led to Black patients receiving less quality care than their non-Black counterparts”(Christensen et al). With the flaws in this technology, I feel it is mandatory to recognize the harmful effects it has had on people of color. Therefore if this bias could be eradicated, then I would feel this technology is incredibly beneficial and important to be developed further. As AI continues to become more capable, I hope to see this bias extinguished so that all individuals may use this technology in confidence. It is evident that we are headed in the right direction as apps like VisualDx are people developed constructively. 

Another area in which artificial intelligence sparks my interest is that of the education field. As someone who is going to school to become a high school English teacher, I often think about how AI will show up in my classroom including positive and negative ways. As this technology grows, there is simply no way to completely eliminate AI use whether it is sanctioned by me, as the educator, or not. I find it important to recognize the negative impacts AI has had on the education system however I also believe it’s important to appreciate the benefits AI can have on individuals who may need extra assistance. In the article, “AI plagiarism is spreading in US colleges. It’s left professors feeling confused and exhausted.” the article discusses how student use of AI has been an immense stressor for professors and educators however it also mentions how it may help students. The article states, “While he acknowledged there are some acceptable uses — for example, students with English as a second language using the tech to polish up essays — he says the shift is still a minefield for professors trying to determine what is and isn’t plagiarism”(Nolan). I think that AI can be an incredibly powerful tool for those who may need support in terms of their education. For students learning English, it is certainly more difficult to write a paper that is of equal rigor as a student who is a fluent English speaker. I hope for AI to be used in a way that levels the playing field and makes the education system more equitable for students. If this technology is developed accurately and in a way that doesn’t compromise the education system, then I would be in full support of this AI technology and would consider integrating it into my own classroom. I believe there is still a way to go in terms of making sure this technology doesn’t interfere with academic intelligence however I find this use of AI to be a positive for students if it is being used to learn and grow as a writer and independent thinker. In another article, “Parents sue their son’s school for punishing his AI use, heralding a messy future” the article states a student who was punished for using AI on a paper. In the article it states, “According to a federal court filing, the parents said their son was punished for using artificial intelligence to ‘prepare the initial outline and research’ for a history paper on a civil rights activist. The parents said in the filing that AI was not used to write the paper and noted that it included citations and a works cited page”(Nelken-Zitser). I find it hard to necessarily decipher this situation and explain where I stand on this particular issue however I do think it’s interesting to talk about the use of AI in helping to complete assignments. For one, it’s important to reiterate that this student did not use AI to write the paper itself but just to generate an outline for the paper and do research. In this sense, I think AI may actually be a useful tool. Although it’s important for students to be creative on their own and complete their own work, I think that using AI can help students develop new perspectives or ideas and potentially look at issues from a new angle. If this technology is being used only to generate ideas and give students new insights, then I feel this technology could be beneficial in an educational setting. This technology is harmful when students use the technology to do the “heavy lifting” and write the paper itself. I hope to a kind of artificial intelligence developed that is school-sanctioned so that there is a sight that is permitted for students to use. I feel if there was a “school friendly” AI that only provided students with basic outlines and ideas, then students wouldn’t feel the need to sneak AI use and use it in a toxic manner. There is certainly a long way to go in developing AI use that is morally sound for the education system however I believe that if this technology is made, it can greatly benefit students of all academic abilities. The use of AI to generate outlines and ideas could help students struggling with ADHD or those who struggle to organize their thoughts in a way that fits into the traditional essay mold. Overall I believe AI can reach a point of being of great use for students in the classroom setting with time and patience. 

In analyzing AI, it is evident that there is much to consider. AI is a powerful tool that can cause great amounts of harm as well as benefit for people from all walks of life. As someone who is unsure of AI and strays on the side of caution about its benefits, I have a new sense of hope for the future of this technology and feel it is capable of helping people in many ways. As we move forward as a society, it is important to keep in mind that we are capable of creating a narrative around AI that is greatly positive and continue with a mindset of growth and morality, instead of deception and misuse.

Link to Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Im3YCG3TBgzemyTBz-GAv72WYW3v3vtZ2_gE8vuFrmg/edit?tab=t.0

Honestly, the endless possibilities of artificial intelligence intrigue me. While AI is currently being misused by many companies across different industries, with proper oversight, it can become a tool that assists many in their daily lives. Improvements in the workplace would include greater productivity among workers, smoother-running systems that boost efficiency, and a reduction in human error. AI has the potential to revolutionize industries by automating repetitive tasks, streamlining decision-making, and enhancing problem-solving capabilities. However, its true impact depends on ethical implementation and responsible development.

One of the readings that caught my eye was “Fixing AI’s Energy Crisis.” In this article, scientists discuss innovative solutions to AI’s excessive energy consumption. The AI-energy problem has spurred advancements in photonics, leading to more efficient data transmission and even computation using light. Optical data transfer, as demonstrated by Stanford engineer Jelena Vuckovic, significantly reduces energy consumption compared to electronic transmission, with losses of less than 100 femtojoules per bit. Her silicon waveguide can support 400 data channels and promises speeds of up to 10 terabytes per second for GPU connections. Meanwhile, Lu Fang’s team at Tsinghua University has developed Taichi, a photonic AI chip capable of performing complex tasks, such as generating Bach-style music and Munch-inspired images, while achieving unprecedented energy efficiency. As someone who loves planet Earth and believes that harming it is one of the greatest sins, I deeply appreciate the work these scientists and engineers are doing to develop more energy-efficient and practical AI solutions. Their innovations not only reduce energy consumption but also minimize water waste and decrease carbon emissions, making AI more sustainable for the future.

Another reading in this class that highlighted the brighter side of AI use was “Meet the Super Users Who Tap AI to Get Ahead.” In this article, various white-collar workers discuss how AI has saved them time and assisted them in the workplace. One major benefit is AI’s ability to streamline content creation by providing structured frameworks, ensuring consistency, and reducing the time spent on brainstorming and formatting. This is how Lisa Ross utilized artificial intelligence in her workplace. Ilker Erkut, an administrative operations assistant at the University of Maryland, claims he saves up to 15 hours a week due to AI boosting his work productivity. With this extra time, he can focus on his personal goals. At the same time, Erkut is learning complex Excel formulas from AI, which he uses to build spreadsheets that track and analyze customer service calls. As a geology major, I greatly appreciate AI’s versatility. It has helped me in many aspects of my field, from answering quick questions and pulling equations to building practice problems or even guiding me through homework questions. I use ChemGPT and the AI chatbot associated with Macmillan for my chemistry homework. In addition to helping me understand the material, AI guides me and shows the most effective way to solve problems. ChemGPT is also able to provide practice problems, which is extremely helpful. By the time the test comes around, I’ve already worked through five different iterations of the same problem.

Although many companies, such as United Health, have been criticized for misusing AI to gain an unfair advantage over consumers, the potential for artificial intelligence to be used in a positive and ethical manner is vast. From revolutionizing healthcare with early disease detection and personalized treatment plans to enhancing education through adaptive learning platforms, AI has the power to improve lives in countless ways. Additionally, AI can be leveraged to combat climate change by optimizing energy consumption, advancing scientific research, and streamlining disaster response efforts. By prioritizing transparency, fairness, and ethical considerations, AI can serve as a force for good, fostering innovation while ensuring that its benefits are accessible to all.

One great example of a company using AI for good is DeepMind, a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google’s parent company). DeepMind developed AlphaFold, an AI system that has revolutionized protein folding predictions. This breakthrough has significantly accelerated drug discovery, helped researchers understand diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s, and even contributed to the development of treatments for antibiotic resistance. By making AlphaFold’s protein structure database freely available, DeepMind has empowered scientists worldwide to advance medical research and improve human health.

Depending on how you view it, AI surveillance capabilities have advanced significantly, particularly in facial recognition technology, which can identify individuals as they walk into stadiums, airports, or public spaces. While this technology can enhance security by quickly detecting threats, locating missing persons, or streamlining event entry, it also raises serious concerns about privacy, data security, and potential misuse. The ethical implications of AI-driven surveillance continue to be debated, as balancing public safety with individual rights remains a complex challenge.

Artificial intelligence could be a powerful tool if placed in the right hands. With proper oversight and clear rules, misuse would be met with consequences and help deter “snake oil” solutions. While concerns over corporate misuse, privacy, and energy consumption are valid, advancements in AI-driven innovation highlight its potential to drive positive change across various industries. From enhancing workplace efficiency and scientific research to promoting sustainability and improving education, AI’s versatility continues to expand. However, the key to maximizing its benefits lies in ethical implementation, responsible oversight, and continued advancements in energy-efficient computing. As AI evolves, it is crucial to ensure that it remains a tool for empowerment rather than exploitation.

Is AI good or bad for humanity? “AI, like many technologies, is neutral in itself. Whether it’s “good” or “bad” for humanity depends on how it’s used, developed, and managed. There are both positive and negative aspects to consider…”, a response written by ChatGBT. Although it is unlikely AI would ever admit that it would have a negative overall impact on society, it is correct when stating that you cannot generalize so easily. When focused on the scientific aspect, artificial intelligence has been able to supplement life in so many ways, including increased accessibility and diversity in technological and medical fields, most of which are continuing to evolve to help more of society, however this does not speak to its entire presence.

AI has been rapidly implemented throughout our lives, in ways that are both unexpected, and scary. Luckily, with technological advances comes better accessibility for those who need it. The widespread access to ChatGBT and many similar AI products, has allowed for adaption to aid people with neurodevelopmental disorders. Specifically, the ability to understand and label tone in writing, identify any missed grammar errors, deciphering shorthand, or even tracking social media trends. An article in the Washington Post discusses how many people are utilizing AI to overcome struggles, “Ross, who has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and uses they/them pronouns, says they’ve more than doubled their productivity by using AI for almost everything: to create content using specific frameworks, to prepare for tough conversations, to help with project and strategic planning, and to determine impact”, AI has obviously helped them to supplement their skills, and to make their working environment more accessible. ““I’ve figured out a way to mask my neurodivergence,” said Chambers, 40, who has ADHD. “It’s like having an accommodation that’s inexpensive and easy to use””. This expansion of accessibility into areas usually unconsidered by companies helps in the growth and comfortability of everyone. This is a great way to utilize AI in a small, productive manner that does not depend on the accuracy of AI’s current state but instead expands on its machine learning and diagnostic abilities.

Another example of putting emphasis on AI’s powerful machine learning capabilities is utilizing it in the medical field to identify and suggest diagnoses based off of images. This allows for people without access to in-person appointments to get treatment or even expand the database of inflictions to those underrepresented in medical textbooks, such as people of color. There is an active deficit in examples of many dermatology issues on more pigmented skin, which leads to misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of illness and in infections for people of color. Luckily, there has been work towards AI utilizing not only textbook representation of these inflictions but also pulling images from online resources that individuals have shared to increase knowledge about how different issues are seen on darker colored skin. The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reported the statistics in finding accurate disease representation in ‘dark skin images’, or DMIs, throughout various resources. “Of the 15,445 images across all resources, 19.5% were DSIs. Online resources had a greater representation of DSIs (22.1%) compared to printed texts (10.3%). For online resources, VisualDx had a greater representation of DSIs (28.5%) compared to DermNet NZ (2.8%)” AI’s ability to utilize online documents has expanded its pattern recognizing capabilities to more than usually accessed by doctors. This could allow for better diagnoses to be made and for immediate, online, dermatological assistance. “Although the incidence of most skin cancers is lower in individuals with dark skin, these patients often have worse clinical outcomes, including disproportionately higher morbidity and mortality. Consequently, rather than reflecting the incidence of disease in the patient population, educational materials must comprehensively illustrate all pathology in patients of a spectrum of skin tones”, the JAAD reports. Hopefully, by utilizing the opportunity of quick, at-home, and educated help, AI can save lives.

When debating the merits of artificial intelligence, the natural reaction is not to analyze its impact on technological or educational advancements, in my experience it is to resort to fear, implemented by years of science fiction movies regarding technology taking over humanity, think Terminator. Assessing the moral implications of having unlimited, but not verifiably accurate information is time-consuming and inconclusive. Not knowing how AI can be utilized in the wrong hands, whether that be by deep fakes, or its impact on younger generations lives. AI is scary and the way that it has been so quickly discovered and is still rapidly changing, no one can really predict where it will end up or the capabilities it will have. However, commenting on the total social impact cannot be done in a manner right now that is anything other than an opinion. Sure, many of those opinions may lean in an unappealing light, however, the true impact AI has had on every generation has yet to completely unfold. Thus, when analyzing our current situation, the statements that can be made are the ones supported by facts such as the data taken with the increased amount of more accurate diagnostic representation in dermatology with people with more pigmented skin. It is also so obviously beneficial to those who struggle with certain disabilities that AI has proven to be helpful with, such as analyzing tone in text. And even though these cannot be truly weighed against the moral or social impact AI has had and continues to have, because both sides are not completely known, it obviously has positive impacts in some areas, especially those in the technological and medical fields utilizing machine learning. Its ability to expand in this direction, while being monitored and reported on in others, gives me hope that artificial intelligence will have a net positive impact on society.

I as well as many other individuals have expressed either extreme like, dislike, or neutrality towards topics regarding AI. With the many negative aspects AI brings to our modern world, multiple benefits have also arisen: technological advances, improved aid and support, cost reduction,  etc.

Technological advancements have increased significantly with the assistance of AI.  With the increased quantity of advancements, individuals in multiple fields of studies have benefited. AI tools have allowed for data, and/or business processes to be comprehended at a faster rate, in a shorter period of time. 

AI intelligence has improved aid and support for many developing and already established countries. The amount of ruin caused by natural disaster, or lack of education has been an extensive issue for multiple countries around the world. With the help of AI, flood and earthquake predictions have improved and allowed for the proper preparation and well-timed evacuation of specific areas. This is valuable as appropriate actions allow us to avoid unnecessary excursions and minimize damage. According to an article discussing this topic, “The proposed IoT–edge–cloud-based system provides an effective method for prediction along with the transmission of data to the remote cloud server.” (1) Multiple models have the ability to predict earthquakes with specific magnitudes and allows for us to better understand the uncertainty behind many of these tragedies. These predictions will ultimately save the lives and well-being of many people. Lack of education is another issue just as big as natural disasters, statistically.

AI has the ability to help different areas of the world with their lack of education “crisis”. With the proper funding, AI can create and establish specific and personally designed learning plans than can further the education of many children and adults. Tutoring systems can also be created which can give adaptive learning systems and environments to people who require them.

Cost reduction has increased with new and upcoming AI technology. This tech allows for faster repetitive tasks and data analysis. Though it is great to have actual individuals preform tasks in the workplace, in argument and in support of AI, AI is typically much faster and more efficient with specific actions. AI can typically preform these action without error which is common when things are done by actual people, human error. I am not in support of a completely digital world where AI would run everything but, having AI preform difficult tasks that usually have tremendous human error involved could be taken into consideration.

AI is beneficial for artistic creativity. I have seen AI being used to bring individuals ideas to life. On some websites you can type in your idea and AI will generate it in picture form. This can introduce people to new ways to think of the creation they create inside of their head. Some programs have also created chat bots for people to engage with. You can use these to learn more about specific characters or just to talk to “someone” when you need to. Chat bots can also be used for business purposes, providing customer services, multilingual support, and even giving feedback. With businesses using these chatbots for customer service purposes, language can be delivered fast and free of mistakes, such as typos or grammar mistakes.

Many fear about what the future will look like with the presence of AI. I believe that if we use AI for only good it can eventually help us in the future. In general AI has developed our knowledge on so many topics that would have taken us much longer to figure out without it. AI has answered many people questions on topics regarding medicine, agriculture, innovation, and much more. By staying on this track, we can continue to gain and develop as a society. I have asked the people around me about their views on AI. Most of the individuals state that AI is good because it helps them with homework or come up with responses. On the other hand many people have also said that AI scares them and that it is becoming too powerful and normalized in today’s society. It is completely okay to think this about AI because it could possibly be true. Us as a society needs to continue to research and develop this “program” so it does not get out of hand. For some people the use of AI has been apart of their everyday life or work experiences.

In my personal experiences, the moments I engaged with AI, I typically had positive experiences. My first encounter with AI was in middle school with a well known development, Grammarly. I would occasionally use this to improve and look over my work to make it the best it could be. I never thought that AI would turn into so much more than a grammar checker. In high school, ChatGPT was introduced and became popularized around my school. I never used it until my senior year of high school. I would use this to help me find specific quotes in books and create me a light format for an essay if I was confused, ultimately saving me time. So from my personal experiences, I have not had any negative encounters with AI that directly effected me.

AI has evolved so much in recent years and has done so much good for so many different people. If done right, AI can develop into a tool can provide multiple advantages for humanity. I can not completely say that the future is going to be better with AI in it, because I cannot time travel but, we can hope and trust that the people who work with the “higher” and “more developed” versions of AI with do the right thing. I think AI can be good for the future.

(1)  Munish B., Tariq A.A., Anguish M. (2023), Artificial intelligence based real-time earthquake prediction, Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0952197623000404

Before I started this essay, I struggled to find resources to support the claim that AI can be used in good faith. Articles are riddled with Pros and Cons of constantly consuming AI tools, leaving me a tad burned out. I decided to try to clear my head and finished a reading assignment I had for another course. By the time I finished reading the scholarly article I realized that I didn’t understand a single thing I had just consumed. “Autonomy of Affect” by Brian Massumi was an interesting, yet jarring, scholarly article where Massumi claims that emotions are the result of a subtractive process. To my defense, my professor warned us that this reading was a “challenging read,” so I gave it a shot and was surprised when I struggled to understand Massumi’s advanced writing style. 

This realization brought me back to this essay. I quickly opened up ChatGPT and asked it to explain “Autonomy of Affect” by Brian Massumi in simpler terms. ChatGPT gave me a short, yet brief, summary of Massumi’s article and it actually helped me understand the material better. I was a bit skeptical to trust this AI tool, but it was successful in helping me comprehend the material that I spent 30 minutes attempting to analyze. AI is a revolutionary tool, but it should not be abused regularly if another solution can be reached. If we, as individuals, choose to use AI tools, we should use them responsibly by ensuring we do not cross into plagiaristic territory.

Being a student is not the easiest task. We spend a lot of time analyzing complex articles and other works in order to show how we understand and interpret the material. But, sometimes even the broadest of scholarly articles can cause a drift in understanding between professors and students. While conducting my research, I found a number of articles to support that students do, in fact, use AI tools with good intentions. “How are college students using AI tools like ChatGPT?” (Teagan Davidge) asked nine California colleges and universities: “Have you or someone you know used ChatGPT or another AI tool to complete a college assignment? Can you share what the assignment was, and if using AI was approved by your professor.” One student mentioned that he was a premium ChatGPT subscriber and further stated that he “finds it most helpful for summarizing readings.” (Davidge 2024). Another student claimed they used AI for an outline that they were having difficulty with. Many of these students believed that their institutions and professors should implement more assignments that are AI-friendly while others were unsure how they felt about AI in academia.

The use of AI tools by students is almost unavoidable. Whether a student chooses to use AI to understand a math concept better or to plagiarize a response paper is ultimately up to the user in question. Universities are cracking down on students who openly use AI technologies to cheat, but they are also trying to adapt to the fact that these technologies may become more advanced and widely available for all kinds of purposes. “Students Speak: How We Use Artificial Intelligence” (EdTech Staff) follows two undergraduate students (Louisiana State University and University of North Carolina Greensboro) who shared their experiences with AI after its sudden popularity within the last year. For example, LSU has already integrated AI-generated instruction and learning for students, including an AI-powered tutoring system that can assist students with a variety of subjects. Students have reported that the system is helpful and effective as the AI tool is structured to help students with their specific needs. In 2020, UNC Greensboro launched an AI chatbot named Minnie. The chatbot is a quick and easy way to help students who may struggle with finding resources on campus. It has caused a decrease in emails and calls, and has left students and university workers feeling supported and uplifted.

ChatGPT may remain a useful tool for students and professors alike, especially those who find it beneficial to summarize documents, check grammar, create a draft, brainstorm ideas, conduct research and so much more. Institutions are becoming more flexible and cautious to the idea of AI within the classroom and with assignments. As we have previously discussed, AI tools can be useful, but we must learn how to properly use the resources that are available to us with good faith in mind. Students and professors are not well-equipped to understand AI tools; but they can be. Encouraging students to use AI responsibly can be more rewarding than punishing them for a tool that may have assisted them in the past. The creation and use of AI training for both faculty and students on the effectiveness of AI tools could help both parties enhance their AI literacy without fear of being ridiculed for using an easily accessible platform. AI tools may become more advanced and could aid educators as they teach the next generation of students. We cannot be sure that all users exploit AI in bad faith. There will be those who use artificial intelligence in good faith or bad faith, and as scholars who are working to adapt to these technologies, we have to acknowledge that fact. “Refusing GenAI in Writing Studies: A Quickstart Guide” by Jennifer Sano-Franchini, et. al describes it best, “Ultimately most metaphors we apply to our understanding of this new technology are limited—both helpful and potentially dangerous—in informing our understanding as we risk both underestimating and overestimating the constructive and destructive potential of this technology as well as the ethical dimensions of its use” (Sano-Franchini, et. al.; Anderson 2). AI is an advanced tool that can also give us misleading information and can put many in compromising situations. Artificial intelligence has a diverse purpose and can be used in just as many beneficial ways as harmful; it is, however, up to the user to decide how they will choose to use AI tools in the future. It is safer to conduct more research than to rely solely on one source.

AI, artificial intelligence, has been a hot topic as of late. With the rise in popularity comes an infinite number of questions– is it safe? Is it trustworthy? Accurate? Does using AI count as cheating? Where is the line drawn? I cannot answer all of those questions. However, I can shed light on some benefits of appropriately using AI. While there are plenty of reasons to boycott these platforms, AI has been shown to increase productivity and creativity. Chatbots can act as a helpful tool in developing accommodations and modifications. Outside of specialized instruction, AI can aid in lesson planning and teaching. I started my research with Danielle Abril’s The Washington Post: AI super users have found the ultimate work hacks. The more I read about super users, the more specific questions I felt the need to explore, ultimately concluding that AI can be used for good in both the workplace and classroom. 

Danielle Abril’s article, “AI super uses have found the ultimate work hacks,” focuses on the benefits of AI in the workspace. Lisa Ross, vice-president of corporate training company Avenue, claims to use AI for almost everything “to create content using specific frameworks, to prepare for tough conversations, to help with project and strategic planning, and to determine impact” (Abril). They are not the only pro-AI candidate Abril spoke to. Others use the chatbot to aid in transcripts and job interviews. Kanika Khurana said that she could train a chatbot to summarize her dictated thoughts into an appropriate document for corporate (Abril). With this newfound free time, AI users can be more creative in their work and personal lives. So, what does this mean on a larger scale? People are saving time on menial tasks; devoting that energy to more impactful work. AI users can give more time to more meaningful tasks, which could hopefully have a financial gain. Ultimately, they can develop their work at a pace faster than we can comprehend. Extra time can be spent on creativity; people can work on new and improved creations for our ever-changing demands. Instead of bringing work home, the super users can use the rest of their work for themselves. 

Initially inspired by the “AI super uses have found the ultimate work hacks” reading, I wanted to dive deeper into what AI can do in terms of accommodations and modifications. Becca Chambers said, “I’ve figured out a way to mask my neurodivergence… It’s like having an accommodation that’s inexpensive and easy to use.” During my student teaching, I had a lot of hands-on experience with IEPs and 504s. I saw firsthand what it meant to tailor an assignment to meet students’ specific needs. After creating each assignment, I would think to myself how I could edit this to reach the needs of an individual? AI could be a helpful tool in this situation. Essentially, all IEPs and 504s are based on data collected throughout the past school year. That same data could be input into a chatbot, training it to automatically change a given assignment to fit into an IEP/504. In theory, a school would have to hire some kind of tech company to individualize chatbots per each student and their needs. This would have to happen yearly, or the school would need training to eventually do this on their own. I think that it could be a huge time saver and ultimately help both students and educators a tremendous amount. I do not think that AI is capable of replacing special education teachers. However, I think that a chatbot can be used to enhance their work.

As a future teacher, this got me thinking– what can AI be used for in a general education setting? I found an article by Jen Roberts on eduTopia titled “Proactively Limiting the Use of AI in the Classroom,” where she talks about using AI for lessons while also discouraging the use of it. She takes her readers through a three-step process she uses in her classroom to ensure that AI is used effectively and appropriately. First, she shows her familiarity with chatbots, “I want students to know that I am familiar with the process and outputs of an AI chatbot. I mention the things AI has helped me with lately” (Roberts). In my classroom, I would show students how I use Grammarly, showing that AI is more than generative AI. According to Roberts, step two shows them that “generative AI can be inaccurate and unreliable.” After a class reading, the class asked ChatGPT for a summary– the summary had major flaws. It is more beneficial to show the flaws of AI rather than ignoring the topic as a whole. To me, this kind of openness is vital for a productive classroom. The last step is grading an AI-generated paper. Roberts gave her students two essays with the same prompt, one was written by a student and the other by a chatbot. Students were put in groups and asked to grade both papers. It became clear that one was AI-generated. This exercise highlighted the inaccuracy of AI and discouraged students from using it while also allowing them to see a rubric/how their work will be graded.  

Before the start of the semester, I was pretty unfamiliar with the world of AI. I have used Grammarly and ChatGBT, but that was the extent of my knowledge. I didn’t know about different kinds of AI, the thousands of different platforms, how to train an AI, or the environmental impacts. Simply put, I was ignorant. To me, it was just like looking something up, but better. I used to ask it for help with modifications of classwork or medical advice. After all of the readings we have done, I think I have scraped the surface of what artificial intelligence is. I think that AI can be a great tool for everyone: office workers, teachers, and students.