Emma Narvaez
Is the rise of ChatGPT paving the way to an era of boundless knowledge or pushing us towards a future of complacent ignorance? The International Baccalaureate believes in the former, announcing that students are allowed to quote content produced by ChatGPT with the proper citations. However, many arguments have been made which tackle the danger associated with ChatGPT’s influence on knowledge and society. The debate rages on, as we grapple with the question – boon or bane?
ChatGPT was launched on November 30th, 2022, and has since dominated headlines and accumulated over 30 million daily users (Roome, 2023). Its efficiency and broad capabilities give it the prospective to advance society, as humans are no longer obliged to perform manual work and can focus on a specialized area of study. By leveraging natural language processing and deep learning methods, ChatGPT has the ability to understand human language and generate accurate responses, making it a valuable tool in various fields such as education, healthcare, research, and customer service. Due to the high demands of modern life, time is of the essence, and ChatGPT offers society an express route to arrive at its fullest potential. In an interview with a German newspaper Handelsblatt, co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, stated that ChatGPT will “change our world,” (Bhaimiya, 2023).
In a news article published by the IB, Dr. Matthew Glanville, the Head of Assessment Principles and Practice, presented a nuanced argument on the opportunities ChatGPT can offer students and teachers. Rather than straying away from artificial intelligence in fear, Glanville stated that it is essential to “adapt and transform education so students can use these new AI tools ethically and effectively” (Glanville, 2023).
Firstly, he explained that ChatGPT allows students to strengthen their inquiring skills, as the software provides responses more specific to the question than a typical web browser is capable of. Therefore, students will be trained on how to formulate questions that are specific, relevant, and well-structured in order to receive the best possible response.
A major flaw of ChatGPT is that it relies on a limited and biased database, thus passing down inaccurate or incomplete information to impressionable users who have already grown dependent on the software’s information. However, Glanville argued that this is an opportunity for students to learn critical thinking skills through identifying and evaluating biases shown in ChatGPT produced text. By doing so, they will be better equipped to critically evaluate any information they come across in the future, regardless of whether it is produced by a human or an AI software.
Finally, Glanville emphasized that despite the speed and efficiency of ChatGPT and AI, humans still have the advantage of creativity and innovation that is not naturally apparent to AI. Therefore, AI can be utilized to save time so that humans can focus on the creative aspects of their thinking processes. In this sense, AI can be seen as a complement to human creativity, rather than a replacement.
Evidently, ChatGPT and artificial intelligence can be viewed as an effective tool for enhancing educational experiences, promoting critical thinking skills, and increasing efficiency in various fields. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the larger social implications involved with the approaching reality of humanized technology in the long-term. ChatGPT’s convenient nature may jeopardize the acquisition of human knowledge, as it decreases users’ motivation to engage in critical thinking. Students may become too reliant on ChatGPT, resulting in the devaluation of human knowledge and skills. Furthermore, the infiltration of artificial intelligence in various efforts of society makes individuals prone to unemployment and industries to economic disruption. In particular, the use of AI in education could lead to a decrease in employment opportunities for teachers and other education professionals.
From a futuristic concept to a reality, the world has never been closer to bridging the gap between human and machine, the newly introduced relationship presenting a paradoxical dynamic. The International Baccalaureate’s approval of ChatGPT underscores its broad potential and benefits for education and other fields. However, the decision to approve or disapprove of it ultimately rests on how one chooses to utilize it. It is important that educators, policymakers, and society as a whole carefully consider the impact of AI technology on our lives to ensure that its contributions are not being abused, but are being utilized ethically, responsibly, and beneficially for all. Only then will society be able to unlock the true potential of artificial intelligence in every aspect of life.
Works Cited
Bhaimiya, Sawdah. “Bill Gates Said ChatGPT Will ‘Change Our World’ by Making the Workplace More Efficient.” Business Insider, 10 Feb. 2023, www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-chatgpt-says-will-change-our-world-interview-2023-2.
Glanville, Matthew. “Why ChatGPT Is an Opportunity for Schools.” International Baccalaureate®, 28 Feb. 2023, www.ibo.org/news/news-about-the-ib/why-chatgpt-is-an-opportunity-for-schools/.
Roose, Kevin. “How ChatGPT Kicked off an A.I. Arms Race.” The New York Times, 3 Feb. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/02/03/technology/chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence.html.
Emma Narvaez