Buyer Beware…
Researchers out of MIT, Wellesley College, and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design tasked undergrad and graduate students to either write essays unaided or with the help of Artificial Intelligence, and found that:
- The students who relied on AI exhibited less brain activity during the task than those who went about the writing totally on their own.
- 83% of the AI users were less able to remember what they’d written, 83% vs. the 11%. They also “felt less ownership over their work.”
- BUT, those who did their own writing and then used AI to write on the same topic had increased brain activity.
The upshot: The study underscores the importance of teaching kids writing skills and the writing process.
Plus…
According to the report “Schools’ Embrace of AI Connected to Increased Risk” from the Center for Democracy and Technology…
- 85% of teachers and 86% of students used AI during the 2024-25 school year.
- 50% of students agree that AI in class hurts their ability to build relationships with teachers.
- 47% of teachers and 50% of parents worry about declining peer-to-peer connections because of AI.
- 64% of students use AI for tutoring aid, 49% for college and/or career advice, 43% for relationship advice, and 42% for mental health support.
Nevertheless:
- 69% of teachers have been using AI for curriculum and content development; 50% for student engagement, 48% for professional development, and 45% for grading tools.
- 69% of teachers say AI has improved their teaching methods and skills; 59% said it personalizes learning, 55% said it gives them more time to interact directly with their students, but…
- 71% of teachers said students’ use of AI burdens them with trying to figure out if work is student- or AI-generated.
Meanwhile, an October College Board Research survey found that 100% of high school principals are concerned about “academic integrity” challenges created by AI; most said they are “very concerned.”
And then there’s Character.AI, which allows users to create characters and/or interact with those created by others—all of which the company says are meant to ‘feel alive’ and ‘humanlike.’
- About that, the Center for Democracy and Technology finds that 20% of high schoolers have had a relationship with an AI chatbot or know someone who has, and…
- According to Common Sense Media, 72% of teens have used an AI companion, with 43% using it for relationship advice, while 33% have discussed serious matters with their AI companion instead of a human.
- Character AI boasts more than 20 million active users, more than 10 million characters, and has now been sued by several parents “for releasing the platform before making sure it was safe to use.” Among them, Florida mom Megan Garcia, whose son killed himself after talking to a chatbot named Daenerys Targaryen, based on the character in Game of Thrones.
Bottom line: Look before you and yours leap on to the bandwagon, too
~ With my many thanks, Carol
