Experts explain AI negatives and positives

 

There are concerns that excessive reliance on artificial intelligence could foster academic laziness.

 

A recent report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that users who relied on ChatGPT to write essays, exhibited significantly lower brain activity, poorer critical thinking and creativity, and increasingly resorted to copy-and-paste methods.

 

These actions all indicate that over dependence on AI may hinder learning, according to the experts. 

 

In contrast, participants using Google or working unaided displayed stronger neural engagement, greater satisfaction, and more original thinking, suggesting that balanced use of AI tools can support, rather than hinder  learning. 

 

While cautioning against uncontrolled AI use, leading to "academic laziness," President of the Jamaica Teacher's  Association, Dr. Mark Smith has stressed that AI can be used to enhance learning.

 

"We can use it as a tool, much like the calculator, to enhance educational outcomes, and so we have to look at it within the confines of how it is that we flip what happens in the classroom and a lot more engaging, in terms of discussions, critical thinking activities that we can see and assess and know that the AI is not influencing that," Mr Smith said.

 

Christopher Reckord, Chairman of Jamaica's National AI Taskforce, also acknowledged longstanding concerns about AI replacing human jobs but is seeking to assure skilled workers that they should not worry. 

 

"I don't think we can slow down at all," Mr Reckord conceded but in his opinion Jamaica's workers "don't have to worry about it now because a lot of the things that a plumber; a lot of things that a worker that is helping around the house; all of these things, no AI is going to help us with that any time soon."

 

"It is some of the other types of jobs around answering questions; any thing that you ask and have to answer questions, those people have to be concerned about their jobs right now," he said.