AI is a powerful tool. In recent years, it has become apparent how useful AI is in integrating technology into education. How much will this new technology impact the way students learn?
The world of education is changing, and AI is at the forefront of that change. As our students become more technologically inclined, will they depend more on AI to complete their writing assignments. In this post we will discuss the realities of AI essay writers and their potential impact on literacy.
What is an AI Essay Writer?
An AI essay writer is any tool that uses AI to generate content for an essay. We can use AI to enhance, edit, or, in other ways, improve writing inside and outside of academia.
In the past, students could download a prewritten essay or hire a freelancer to write an essay for them. Is using AI to create content for assignments just as unethical?
AI writing assistance can be handy and is usually used to make quick edits. One of the most significant questions regarding AI-assisted writing is at what point it becomes plagiarism?
It seems that some students rely heavily on AI to perform research and even generate parts of an essay, if not the entire thing.
Why Would Students Want to Use AI for Academic Writing?
As AI use becomes more commonplace, it seems natural to want to use it to alleviate the strain of challenging tasks. For many students who are digital natives, using the latest tech tools to aid in school work is second nature.
Young students aren’t the only ones accustomed to everyday AI assistance. The ubiquitous tool Spell Check has perfected essays and other compositions for decades in Microsoft Word. Most of us have also experienced the joys and sorrows of autocorrect.
Tools like Grammarly correct spelling and grammar and catch stylistic errors like repetition of commonly used words or passive voice. But what about using AI tools like ChatGPT to generate entire writing assignments? At what point do these AI tools go from helping to develop to helping to cheat?
Some may find the temptation to let AI writing tools take the lead on assignments overwhelming. AI can process a lot of information quickly, review multiple sources, and generate what seems like well-thought-out responses.
Can You Detect AI Writing?
It is difficult to detect AI writing with complete accuracy. Though AI detectors, free and paid, are available, there have been many laughable examples of their failure. One blogger points out an AI detector claimed the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence was 97.75% AIGPT generated.
The market for AI detectors, like GPTZero, is still thriving as employers and educators adapt and mitigate the usefulness of AI-generated work in their classrooms.
OpenAI has also been developing an AI watermark. This would let the company’s AI detectors know the writer used AI by hiding a code within the text.
For example, OpenAI would train its AI writer to use 20% more “V”s than the average human. Or the AI would use a combination of certain phrases that the detectors could identify as AI-generated. When you run a piece through the AI detector, these watermarks would determine whether the piece was created by an AI tool.
There are some clear limitations of this technology. As with the Declaration example, complex combinations of words are common in academic writing and may not be typical in a blog or other less formal written communication. Therefore, it would be nearly impossible to ensure that word or letter combinations did not occur naturally.
Additionally, OpenAI has no plans to release its AI watermark technology and has no economic reason to do so. Doing so would send its users to products that don’t use watermarks. So you should not depend on companies to regulate themselves.
Concerns with the Use of AI Writers
AI seems to challenge the way students learn and gather information. Obviously cheating is an issue, but a large concern is a reduction in literacy. Beyond being able to read or write, AI may challenge students’ ability to think critically about a topic.
Writing assignemnts and essay are a way for learners to exhibit their mastery of the subject. When students use AI to complete assignments, it undermines the goal of the assignment. The pressure to perform and achieve high marks may push students to cut corners.
The primary concerns around AI-generated writing are:
- Lack of originality/inconsistency
- Lack of subject comprehension/superficial arguments
- Personal voice in writing
- Unfair accessibility
- Impact of research quality
- Students will not edit their papers, which leads to less quality work or confusing or repetitive logic.
These concerts have pushed educational institutions to find solutions in policy. But the road to regulation is a long one.
Is There an Ethical Use of AI Essay Writers?
AI tools are here to stay and they can be helpful. Students who struggle with spelling can benefit from automatic spelling and grammar checkers. AI tools like ChatGPT can help students get started brainstorming topics. Educators should encourage students to use AI as a supplement, not a solution.
There are a few ways to lessen the impact of generative AI on student development, but there is no way to stop its use completely. Instead, we should teach digital literacy and transparent disclosure of AI use.
Balancing AI Tools and Critical Thinking
Written assignments allow students to express their comprehension and ability to create arguments supported by evidence. AI can help students organize their thoughts, but teachers should help them understand the importance of their own thoughts.
FAQ
Is there an AI that can write essays?
Yes, there are AI tools available, like ChatGPT, that can assist in writing essays. It’s important to use AI ethically by viewing it as a tool to aid research or brainstorming rather than as a substitute for your original work.
Can I use ChatGPT to write my essay?
ChatGPT can generate text that may be relevant to your essay assignment. However, there is no guarantee that the information in that text will be accurate or appropriate.
Can AI essay writers be detected?
There are tools that analyze patterns in language, sentence structure, and coherence to identify content that AI may have generated. However, these tools are not always accurate.
Delving Deeper:
For more in-depth discussions on these topics, check out our latest podcast where we dive into the real-world applications and cultural impact of AI in education.
Stay Connected:
Don’t miss out on the latest updates and insights in the world of educational technology. Sign up for our newsletter today!
Read Next: Metacognition in Education: Encouraging Students to Think About Thinking
Join Our Mailing List