In today’s context of the start of the use of AI, as a student, you often hear “don’t use Chatgpt!” and see your paper being tested to “check the level of AI used” even though those tools are widely criticized for their inaccuracy and false positives. In this climate, artificial intelligence is presented as something dangerous, almost dishonest. But what if refusing to teach students how to use AI was the real mistake?
First off, even though some people are against it, the rise of AI has become so important that, at this point, it is unstoppable. Whether we like it or not, we cannot return to a pre-AI world. The question is no longer whether AI should exist, but how we choose to respond to it. Ignoring it will not make it disappear. Learning how to use it responsibly, however, can prepare us for what is coming. To me, the importance of learning how to use AI now is the same as it would have been to learn how to use a computer. As of today, you would not see yourself working without a computer, right? Well AI will most probably follow the same path and, at this point, you will not want to be the only one not knowing how to use it or it will cost you a lot: like your job for example.
Talking about jobs, I understand the fear of losing your job over AI, but I believe the reflection should go further: I don’t think you will lose your job if you can implement AI to it. I think that the human and the AI will have to work hand in hand eventually and that is why you need to know how to use it, because the reason why you could lose your job is if you cannot work with the AI, but it won’t be because it took your place, but because someone else, who knows how to use it, will. At this point the topic should be more “are you ready to move forward, or are you giving up?”. That is why kids especially should learn, young enough, how to use AI.
Think about this for a second, would you be mad at a school for teaching your kid how to count? No, because this skill will be useful once they enter the workplace. Then, if you change “count” by “using AI”, the answer should be the same. It is common knowledge that kids learn and remember more things when they are young, thus, I believe the implementation of the use of AI in middle school could help them assimilate this skill which will be really useful to them when they become an adult.
In conclusion, I don’t try to minimize the fear that some people might have to lose their job, but, I do believe that not allowing students to learn how to use AI tools (not cheat during exams, learn how to use it properly!), will not protect them from the future, it will only ensure they are unprepared for it.