Educational AI: A Double Edged Sword
Artificial intelligence, something that once was science fiction, has now made its way into many aspects of our lives. This extends to business, government, research, education, and most other sectors of society. The recent rise in AI platforms for public use, such as Chat GPT and others, has caused varying reactions from the higher education community, including both students and teachers. While some believe that it is a source of good and something that can make everyone’s lives easier, others fear that this use could have massive ramifications for every individual and society more broadly.
In search of the perspective of our faculty and students here at St. Lawrence University, The Hill News asked both students and faculty their thoughts on this pressing and ever-growing matter in our lives. Each professor gave their thoughts on AI technologies such as Chat GPT and if they believe it is a positive or negative thing for learning.
Some professor’s approach to AI was that of hesitation. This was the case for Professor Roy Caldwell of the World Languages, Cultures and Media Department “I’m not too up to date, but I’m suspicious,” Professor Caldwell remarked on the topic of Chat GPT. He did go on to say that he understands why people use AI. His wife, a professor at Clarkson University, utilizes Chat GPT in her classes as an exercise for her students. In a similar vein, Sociology Professor Yasmine Bayar stated that, while she does not know what is good or bad about AI, plagiarism and a lack of work on the student’s behalf is a main concern of hers. She claimed that spotting the difference between something written by AI can be quite simple, with its sometimes overcomplexity while adding in fluff in other parts. In addition, Chat GPT, as well as other software, can be highly formulaic. To sum it up, Bayar believes it to be a work in progress.
Other professors, such as Dr. Ivan Ramler of the Math, Computer Science, and Statistics Department, believe it can be used in many ways, particularly in stem fields. “In my opinion, we should learn how to use it so it can help us,” Dr. Ramler stated while also acknowledging that it is imperfect, and one should know what they are doing with AI to do an effective job. “I don’t want students to shy away from it,” he said while conversating on its uses in higher-level statistics, computer coding, and general stem fields. He did, however, state that while it can help perform complex tasks such as coding, it can be wrong, and if one wants to use it for that, one must understand the codes in the first place. In addition, he said for higher-level math and statistics students; Chat GPT is good for things such as refreshers on past classes/ topics you might have once been more acquainted with.
The final professor came with a stark warning of AI. Government Professor Atal Ahmadzai of the Government warned of an obsession with technology and its consequences. “It’s overblown,” said Ahmadzai, “For education, it has consequences like other aspects of technology such as social media.” Ahmadzai fears that if students lean on platforms such as Chat GPT to do work for them, vital skills such as critical thinking, writing and attention to detail in things such as long readings will all be damaged. He believes that this obsession with technological advancement in this light could very well have dangerous consequences.
On the topic of Chat GPT, Students such as Bailey Webster ’25 said, “It’s okay; I personally don’t use it, but I could see how it could be helpful in an educational setting.” This was something echoed by other students, such as Max Rapoport ’26, who said, “I don’t know, it’s cool, I guess,” when asked about the platform. Many students see the platform as a tool for brainstorming ideas, fixing clunky sentences, and a tool for helping explain complex ideas.
When asked about Chat GPT’s benefits and dangers of itself, Chat GPT stated, “The use of ChatGPT in higher education offers benefits such as personalized learning, 24/7 support, and teacher assistance, but it also raises concerns about data privacy and algorithmic bias, emphasizing the importance of responsible implementation. Overall, when used thoughtfully, ChatGPT can enhance the educational experience.”
The consensus found at St. Lawrence University is that the world will have to wait and see if these new technologies are of great use or great detriment.