In the mid-twentieth century, the idea of artificial intelligence (AI) grew with hopes to perform and create human-like interaction and intelligence within software. Alongside this creation came doubts and concerns about how AI will affect humans in schools and workplaces. Many people worry about whether or not AI will take jobs away from humans, while others argue that AI is there to help improve the efficiency in which tasks are performed, not steal opportunities indefinitely.
As the science behind AI improved, concerns regarding the value of human intelligence and perspective increased. Mr. Chabot, a photography teacher at Apopka High School, explained his views “My biggest concern with AI is the potential for it to ruin creativity in the way that people aren’t having to actually create anymore. It’s a very different experience to choose a set of variables and then watch an outcome that you didn’t have to really execute come to fruition. However, I don’t think that happens very often.” He continued: “There’s such a thing as happy mistakes, but there’s no such thing in pure human-made artwork being something created without intention.” Mrs. Houvouras, an English teacher at Apopka High School, shared this belief and added “I get concerned that suddenly the product from AI will be valued more than the product from humans, when without the human product, we wouldn’t have the AI product.”
Even if you are against artificial intelligence, it is important to take the advantages that it brings into consideration. AI has not only been used to improve the overall productivity in workplaces but improve the efficiency in which the world works as a whole. Over the years, AI has gradually increased our understanding of science and technology by allowing us to process more data in less time than before. By doing so, scientists have been able to form a better understanding of the processes that take place in the human body. This knowledge has allowed pharmaceutical scientists to create innovative medication that may be used to save lives. AI has also been seen supporting teachers when it comes to grading. Jacob Davis, a senior at AHS, stated “In my UF dual enrollment class, AI is used to grade our reading assignments. This application of AI doesn’t really affect my learning as it is just used to grade, but is, nonetheless, a cool example of AI being implemented into school.” In this way, AI uses its given capabilities to create a more efficient learning and work environment.
Currently, artificial intelligence can articulate explanations better than any human due to the vast source of information it’s been given. It is understandable that people focusing on this aspect alone would worry about their jobs, but at this time, AI is confined by the limits of its information sources that are created by human intelligence (and its flaws). Until AI develops the ability to form its own opinions and gain sentience, it is not an immediate concern. However, once it can act upon its opinion and impact the world, it will be a true competitor to human influence.
