MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – Technology has become an increasing presence in the classroom, offering new ways to teach and learn. However, some new technologies present educators with a new challenge.
Northern Michigan University philosophy professor Antony Aumann said that late in the fall semester he caught a student using artificial intelligence (AI) to cheat on an essay.
“The grammar was too perfect, the structure was impeccable, and he was incredibly insightful,” Aumann said. “Frankly, it was a little better than most of my students are capable of.”
Aumann stated that he ran the student’s paper on an AI search engine which he said had a 99% match to one on his system. The professor said that a new AI chatbot called Chat GPT, created in November, can do almost anything you ask of it. Aumann added that incidents like these are causing teachers to worry about the future.
“I just think the temptation will be too great given how easy it will be and it’s not just for rehearsals,” Aumann said. “You can submit your multiple choice questions and the chat will tell you how to do it. You can solve your computer programming problems, you can solve your math problems, there are all kinds of things you can do.”
Stefka Hristova, Associate Professor of Digital Media at Michigan Technological University, explained how AI technology like GPT Chat differs from other learning-related technologies students already have.
“Chat GPT can write a very formulaic essay and always with the same formula,” Hristova said. “So you’ll have an introduction and you’ll compare and contrast and then every time you run the software, the conclusion will start with the same thing.”
He noted that being tech literate will be key for educators moving forward.
Both professors finally expressed that the AI will continue to progress, so we must learn how to progress with it.
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