This week in class, we had a discussion about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its growing presence in education, creative industries, and everyday life. I’ve heard a wide range of perspectives on AI — some people are very against it, while others encourage students and individuals to experiment with it and learn how to use it. Personally, I see AI as a tool — something that can assist in certain areas but should not be relied on to do all the work. It’s important to strike a balance and consider the broader implications AI might have on people, creativity, and the world.

AI Tools and Resources We Discussed

During our discussion, we explored various AI platforms and tools:

  • Google Labs: This platform allows users to experiment with AI, including creating images. Below are some of my results from playing around with google labs.
  • AI Image Generators: Tools like DALL-E and Midjourney can create highly realistic images from text prompts.
  • AI Video Generators: Platforms like Sora and HeyGen generate videos from text descriptions, allowing users to create realistic video content without traditional filming.
  • Notebook LM: An AI tool designed to help organize and summarize research, notes, and documents.
  • Grammarly and Writing Tools: AI programs that help with grammar, spelling, and writing structure.

How I’ve Used AI

Reflecting on my own experiences, I realized I’ve already used AI in a couple of ways throughout my academic journey:

  • Grammar and Spelling Assistance: In the beginning of my degree, I frequently used Grammarly to check my grammar and spelling in essays and assignments.
  • Essay Outlines and Study Guides: I’ve also used AI to help generate writing outlines or templates for essays and projects, especially when I felt stuck. It’s been helpful in creating study guides or summarizing complex concepts.
  • Entertainment Recommendations: One of my favorite uses of AI has been asking ChatGPT for personalized movie, book, or music recommendations. For example, I could prompt it with something like “I’m looking for a cute, feel-good movie similar to Wes Anderson’s style” — and I often found it to be very successful in curating recommendations based on my taste.

Concerns and Challenges with AI

Although AI can be a useful tool, I’ve also developed some strong concerns about its impact on creativity, education, and society at large:

  1. AI-Generated Art: One of my biggest challenges with AI is its use in creating art. Art, to me, is a deeply human experience — it’s an expression of emotion, culture, and individuality. Having AI generate art feels like it’s taking work away from real artists who have dedicated time and skill to their craft. It raises the question: Should we let machines replace human creativity?
  2. Distortion of Reality: AI-generated videos and voice replication have made it increasingly difficult to differentiate between what is real and what is fake. This is particularly concerning when it comes to misinformation, deepfakes, and fabricated news. I’ve seen examples of AI replicating someone’s voice to make them say things they never actually said — and as an adult, I found it difficult to tell the difference. This could be especially harmful for children who may not have the skills to critically analyze what they see online.
  3. An Easy Way Out: Another concern I have is that AI can offer an easy way out — allowing people to bypass the hard work and critical thinking required for learning. For example, students may rely on AI to write their essays or complete assignments without actually understanding the content. This could significantly impact their ability to think critically, problem-solve, and engage with the material.
  4. Environmental Impact: AI consumes a significant amount of energy and water, contributing to environmental damage. It’s easy to overlook these impacts when we’re simply sitting in front of a computer, but the environmental cost is real. Instead of channeling resources into powering AI, those resources could be redirected toward helping real people and addressing global challenges.
  5. Bias and Lack of Diverse Perspectives: AI tools are trained on existing content, which often reflects dominant cultural narratives, biases, and stereotypes. This means AI-generated content can perpetuate racism, sexism, and westernized ideals. I often wonder — what worldviews does AI promote? And how is this influencing people, especially young students, who may not realize the biases embedded in the content AI produces?

Final Reflection

Overall, my feelings about AI remain complex. It’s clear that AI has the potential to be a helpful tool, but it also comes with significant risks. I worry about the long-term impact of AI on human connection, creativity, and education. Will students lose the ability to think critically if AI does the work for them? Will human-to-human interactions diminish as AI becomes more integrated into our lives? And what will the environmental cost be as we continue to power AI technologies?