And of course, if you have something happening very fast that you do not understand, one of the first responses is to say, ‘Let’s just regulate this out. Let’s not.’ For example, in January 2022, New York City banned the use of chatGPT. In just six months since its release in November 2022, chatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, has captivated the minds of millions of people worldwide.
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot known for its ability to provide articulate answers to questions. Dr. Steve Watson, an associate professor at the University of Cambridge, explained that chatGPT uses pattern recognition to answer questions. It analyzes publicly available text to identify patterns in letters, syllables, spaces, sentence structures, and grammar. This pattern recognition allows chatGPT to generate responses.
However, the rise of chatGPT poses a significant threat to the integrity of formal assessments. According to a report from education think tank Edsk, it has become virtually impossible to determine whether a student has produced their own work or used chatGPT. This widespread malpractice undermines the credibility of coursework and similar assessments.
Despite the concerns, Dr. Watson emphasized the benefits of AI chatbots, describing them as tools for inclusion. They can assist students with neurodiversity, such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorders, by helping them structure their ideas and communicate effectively.
AI chatbots have already been in use for years, with popular examples like Alexa and Siri. However, the exponential growth in their capabilities raises questions about the future of education and job prospects. Automation is expected to boost global GDP but also puts around 30% of jobs at risk of being automated by the mid-2030s. This impact is even greater for individuals with low education levels.
While automation is inevitable for certain industries, human interaction remains crucial in education and certain jobs. Dr. Watson believes that technology, including AI chatbots, will mediate human interactions rather than replace them entirely. As the world moves towards digitalization, humans can adapt to automation and use it to enhance their knowledge and human interaction.
In conclusion, the rise of AI chatbots like chatGPT has both positive and negative implications. While they offer benefits in terms of inclusion and assistance, they also pose challenges to the integrity of assessments and raise concerns about job automation. It is crucial to find a balance between leveraging AI technology and preserving the value of human interaction in education and the workforce.
