What does AI mean for Central?

By: Gretta Maguire

The recent release of Artificial Intelligence (AI) generator ChatGPT has left the American newscycle in a frenzy of concern over how this will affect academia, and remains present in many Central educators’ and students’ minds. 

Many worry about the long-term effects of student AI usage. Teacher and School Technology Coordinator Mr. Innamarato says, “I think society will definitely have major problems. I mean, would you want a surgeon operating on you just to find out that they passed all their exams by using artificial intelligence, not really studying and knowing their work?” He added, “There is a place for Artificial Intelligence in this world but this is one of those times where it can literally be totally misused and have harmful effects on the future.” English teacher Ms. Yakov says, “How are you going to get prepared for the SAT if you let Artificial Intelligence do all your work? Artificial Intelligence isn’t going to take all your tests.”

Conversely, many do not see ChatGPT as a very prevalent threat to Central. Charlie Harris (283) says, “Obviously students can use it to cheat, but I think that teachers are either able to notice that already or are going to get very good at noticing it, so I don’t think that’s a real issue. I don’t see it really having a significant impact on Central specifically.” Others have pointed out its limits for people who might try to use it to cheat. “I don’t think that you could just get through Central with it,” says Sudi Yang (282). 

 Another aspect of the AI technology is how it varies from subject area to area. The analysis that might land someone a poor grade in an English assignment might not be necessary in a science assignment. Idris Giuliano (282) says, “I think that it’s different in that science is, I feel like, much more objective than English is so I think that it’s much easier to use AI to come up with like a solid science thing than it is [English] cause they’re just gathering information from the internet.” Another factor to consider when looking at the differences across subject areas is Art AI. Although a totally different generator than ChatGPT, AI produced art is still a threat to the visual art industry. Mr. Bevenour, one of the Central art teachers, says, “I don’t think it’s going to be a huge problem right out of the gate.” He adds, “It’s more problematic, I think, for professionals than it is for students right now.” He highlighted concerns about if art AI were to get smarter, and better able to mimic a student’s high school level work. Some fear the effect that AI will have on teachers and teaching quality. 

Others have pointed out changes that might happen within academia as a result of AI. Dezlen Long (282) says, “When you have artificial intelligence robots doing everything, it gets to a point where you lose humanity, pretty much. Nothing’s personal anymore, it’s all robotic.” English and Theory of Knowledge teacher, Ms. Brooks, says, “I think this is the start of technology being taken out of academia.” She highlighted the symptoms of this overall trend, such as not typing papers, more handwritten materials, and prohibiting computers and cell-phones for note-taking.  

The Central High Administration has no specific consequence or punishment for the use of AI at this time. It falls under the same procedure for all uses of technology in cheating. That being said, it has still garnered special attention due to its unique threat to academic integrity. Assistant Principal Snyder says, “I’m fearful of what it could mean for students and academic integrity and also you know if we’re submitting work to outside agencies. For instance, with the International Baccalaureate program we send off 500 pieces of original student work every year. If we get caught submitting plagiarized work–and obviously anything generated by AI software is a form of plagiarism–we have the potential to lose our program.” Some teachers have communicated a strategy to combat AI in writing, such as more on-paper assessments or technological extensions to catch student AI usage. However, the issue of AI regulation still remains prevalent within the school and the workforce as a whole.