How can one differentiate between "smart" and "stupid" use of artificial intelligence?

[noname223]

I read in a newspaper the good students will become better with AI. And bad students will become even worse. This is an interesting observation because the same goes for the socioeconomical impact of AI. But is also factual?

I think factchecking is important and critical thinking while using it. Comparing it with one's own knowledge on the issue.

 

[22yearsbroken]

Pretty easy really... smart people dont use it ...

 

[Forveleth]

My quick take: "Good" students use AI to enhance their thinking by getting ideas or receiving feedback. "Bad" students use the AI to do the thinking for them. One is using a tool to further their own education while the other one is stifling their learning by doing the equivalent of copying someone else's homework.

 

[dewdrop]

AI can be useful in certain fields in which it can supersede human abilities, such as data analysis. From what I know, AI can spot tiny discrepancies in data that would go unnoticed by a human.

However, there are not many justified uses of AI when you consider the devastating environmental implications.

I would consider an especially stupid and wasteful use of AI to be something like ChatGPT (and any other personal uses available to the general public). I worry that humanity is going to become lazier and less intelligent, evolving to rely on AI to think and create for us. It's already happening.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I don't see it any different to using books or other texts. It's a reference source. So- read it, consider it, fact check it, form your own opinions. I suppose basically though, 'stupid' or rather, 'cheating' students will simply copy it and/or try to pass it off as their own work. 'Clever' students will refer to it but make it clear when they are quoting. Who's opinions they agree with and why. They'll show that they read the text, understand it's context and demonstrate that they understand the meaning behind it plus, whether they agree with it.

The 'problem' with AI I imagine- more for tutors is, it will reference multiple sources I imagine plus, provide opposite theories. In my day (the olden days,) we had to source multiple books to do that and- possibly come up with the links ourselves. That in itself I imagine demonstrates intelligence. That you can think broadly around a subject and rationalise your own beliefs.

Plus, I imagine AI will constantly vary it's responses slightly. Tutors well versed in a subject in my day probably knew when a student had copied word for word from a book! I imagine with AI and all the improvisation, it must be much harder to tell.

I suppose ultimately, the question is- can a student get an AI to write an essay for them? I imagine- yes. Whether they have the tools to fully detect that though, I don't know. But, it's like calculators and everything else really. Can you do a very complex sum in your head? Likely no- because we rely on a calculator. So, most of us are more stupid when it comes to maths than previous generations. I expect the same may well happen with AI and critical thinking/ writing.