The use of Artificial Intelligence has increased dramatically in the last few years. It has become a part of our daily lives whether we like it or not. As technology advances, schools worldwide need to find ways to adapt.

Teachers and students alike raise concerns about the long-term effects of AI in education. Mrs. Sexton, an English teacher here at Sandburg, states, “Schools should approach it cautiously. It’s really important that students learn how to think. Deep thought is something [where] you have to go through the process of struggling through and using your thoughts and ideas on your own without the distraction of outside resources…those can interfere with the thinking process, at least at a young age.”

Similarly Isabella Lucero, a sophomore at Sandburg says “Generative AI is very harmful. People can’t think for themselves, so it’s making students dumber.” One may never learn to think for oneself at a young age, limiting one’s capabilities as an adult.

Lucero adds that “People depend on it for simple tasks, which may sound like it will work in the longer term like Google, but AI is ten times more harmful [because] it takes away the thinking process. In an emergency situation, you may not have access to AI, and that may put you in real danger.”

If one has not truly learned those basic life skills and instead used the internet and AI to solve all of their problems, an individual may not be able to solve problems or navigate unfamiliar situations. AI may not always be a possible resource and overreliance could lead to dangerous situations in which one won’t know what to do.  

Outside of the classroom, AI is taking many jobs around the world. Lucero states, “A lot of the calculations that AI makes is stolen from other people’s work, and it is used to train without consent.” AI often takes information from other sources without crediting them. Other examples of this include AI creating art, such as paintings or music, which is hurting people who aspire to be in these industries by limiting their opportunities.

On the other hand, others say that AI can be a very helpful tool and enhance learning. Mr. Drzonek, AP World History and Global Issues instructor, says, “[AI] is here and we need to incorporate it into teaching and education… and embrace it. We should find ways to use it. For example, teachers can use it to enhance their lessons.” He explains how he encourages students to use AI for simple tasks or ideas if they are stuck, as well as for studying, reviewing, or enhancing academic work. 

Rayann Askar, sophomore, agrees, stating, “It is great to help you with homework, especially if you don’t have other resources…to explain new information and do practice quizzes.”

In the long term, AI may enhance students’ education as it can make learning easier by simplifying complex problems and ideas. Askar says, “If you wanted to use it to explain a problem that you got incorrect, it would be beneficial in the long run.” She explains how sometimes she takes classes that her parents and siblings never took, and without the help of a teacher immediately available, AI is a great alternative to understanding the basics in order to complete those assignments at home.

Continuing, Askar said, “Teachers should encourage and invite the use of AI, but not abuse it.”

Only one thing is for sure: AI is not leaving anytime soon. Students and teachers must find new ways to adapt and progress efficiently and ethically with technological advances. Most agree that at the very least, this new technology needs some type of guard rails and constraints.

As Lucero puts it, “AI should be used as a tool to assist, yet not be powerful enough to replace. [But] someone will always take it too far.”

The world is changing and schools must change with it. The next question schools face is: how?