Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used more and more every day in academics, Ann Kotsadam, Math Teacher, said, and that increased use can have negative impacts on students – and their learning, Kotsadam said. 

AI use has always been present in academia, Kotsadam explained. Students and teachers alike have used AI for school purposes, but it can lead to different results based on the intention of the use, she said. Kotsadam explained her perspective on how students utilize AI at school.  

“I believe if students use it correctly, with good intentions, it can have a positive impact, but oftentimes it is used irresponsibly,” Kotsadam said.

However, Kotsadam admitted that it is important to acknowledge why students use AI to complete their coursework to understand the reasoning behind their actions. 

  “Students see [AI] as a way to get quick answers,” Kotsadam said. “Some students are overwhelmed with the amount of classwork [they have], and they think artificial intelligence will cut down on their work time.”

Kotsadam explained that while working on math coursework, one form of AI that students use frequently is an app called Photomath. She explained that users can take a photo of an equation and have the app solve it in a step-by-step format. 

  “Photomath is definitely used [a lot] in math, and it can become an addiction because you get used to [AI] doing the work for you,” Kotsadam said. “It [provides students] an easy way out.”

Additionally, French Teacher Emma Hanna said that students aren’t learning properly when AI is present. The fundamentals of education are removed when students use AI to do work for them, Hanna said. 

“[One of] the main jobs of a high school student is to learn how to articulate themselves,” Hanna said. “That being said, when you take away that learning piece of students’ education, with AI, [it leads to] a negative effect on student learning and growth.”

Junior Irene Park warned of the dangers regarding AI use, because it can easily become a habit to depend on AI for classwork. She explained that using AI consistently can turn into a bad habit. 

“It is very easy for [students] to fall into the trap of constant AI use,” Park said. “After they become dependent on it, it will become hard to change their ways.”