AI in education: How do UAA students feel?

The Northern Light interviewed students around campus about their opinions on AI as part of an investigative series into artificial intelligence..

Opinions varied from student to student, with many pursuing different degree programs.

Ahmed Alabdulbaqi is a finance major. AI is a current topic in his computer information science class, and he’s writing a paper on it.

Alabdulbaqi said that embedded AI, like spell check or Grammarly, has a place in education. Alabdulbaqi said that it's a good tool, like a “personal helper,” but warned against an over dependence on it. He said that AI can’t substitute teaching or people.

Aidan Jackson, an English major, said that she “hates Grammarly.” Jackson said that Grammarly implements a strict system of what English should be – removing more colloquial English, and therefore making writers sound clinical and “western.”

Jackson said that tools like Grammarly feel inauthentic and remove diversity from writing. Not to mention, she said, these tools aren’t always right.

Jacob Weerasinghe, who’s studying Business Management, said that he believed that AI definitely has a place in education. He said that AI tools like spellcheck are useful, but AI shouldn’t be used in technical research or narrative essays.

He said that AI arguments boil down to two main ideas; one being that AI use is taking the easy way out, and the other being that it simply makes life more efficient.

For Weerasinghe, AI use is similar to the way we deal with remembering phone numbers – he’s memorized a few key phone numbers, but for the most part, it’s more efficient for his phone to remember the rest.

Madelyn Kirby, who’s studying education, said that she’s worried that AI will take away children's ability to talk to a real person, and they won’t be able to learn the social lessons they normally do from talking to people.

Kirby said that she understands that college is difficult, but she doesn’t like when students use AI chatbots like ChatGPT for essays. She said that using AI in that way takes away from valuable learning experiences.

One student using AI in education is Aden Burch, a non-degree seeking ANSEP student. He said that he’s used AI to help him understand complicated topics in classes like chemistry. He said that in larger classes, where one-on-one time with the professor is limited, AI can be a useful tool to explain complicated topics that a student needs more help understanding.

Burch said that he doesn’t believe that AI will become an issue when it comes to academic writing. He said that AI can’t bring in its own ideas, and can’t actually be creative; it’s just a jumble of other people’s work.

J.P., an aviation major, said that he sees AI as a tool. He said that some people use it as a tool and a resource, while others will abuse that power. He said that AI is “almost cheating” when you rely on it at all times, but it works as a backup or a “quick refresher” tool when used properly.

Donnie Lawhead, who studies finance, said that he finds himself in the middle of the debate. He recognizes the benefits and drawbacks, and said that there have been instances where professors have encouraged him to use it in specific contexts. Lawhead said that it comes down to how people use AI, and how honest they actually are about it.

Lawhead said that he doesn’t yet know where AI will go, but he doesn’t really care for it, and doesn’t want to use it for now.