In recent months, AI advancement has reached a shocking speed. While this can raise concerns for college students about the job market or school performance, it is also a time when students have more power at their fingertips than ever.
The responsibility and understanding of how to use AI ethically while enhancing one’s literacy with it should be a focal point for all students planning to enter the workforce soon, especially those that wish to maintain a degree of integrity and control in their lives that remains AI free.
AI Ethics is your rulebook, and AI Literacy is your capability. You cannot have one without the other, and they should not be out of balance. As your ability expands, so should your rules.
Martin Key, a researcher of the ethical and safe use of AI in businesses and organizations, provided his own question to begin your ethical guidelines. “Have you reflected on a sense of just, let’s say, technological integrity, so that there are certain things in your life that are just going to be off limits to allow this technology to help you with?” Key said.
If you’re using it to generate entire paragraphs of the paper you’re writing, and changing a few words to make it look human, you might take a step back and realize you’re not just plagiarizing; you are effectively stunting your own thinking.
A study from MIT had three groups of people write SAT essays. One group was given only the Google search engine, one was given only ChatGPT, and the last group was given nothing. The results showed, using an EEG brain scan, that ChatGPT users had the lowest brain engagement and were consistently below the median at the neural, linguistic and behavioral levels. Throughout the study, which lasted several months, the ChatGPT-only group grew lazier with each essay, eventually copying and pasting all their work.
This study is consistent with the idea that over-dependence on AI models for basic work, such as writing, idea generation, and decision making can cause harm to you now and has long term implications.
“Don’t thoughtlessly outsource your expertise. Have a sense in which you understand the value that you’re trying to bring to a situation where you might use this technology and don’t undercut what it is that is actually good for you,” Key said.
This is exactly why returning to a personal ethical framework of AI use is important. Other important questions you can ask yourself in using AI correctly and building your own ethical framework include:
- Will my use of AI affect others? Will it bring a positive or negative outcome for them?
- Is my use of AI affecting my real-life connection and well-being?
- Is my use of AI in this situation fair?
- Is my use of AI harming others’ privacy and security?
- Is this a task that requires personal creativity and problem-solving?
As the generation entering the workforce at the dawn of the AI revolution, it is incredibly important that we implement workplace rules and restrictions to prevent negative outcomes for everyone. Unethical use could result in lawsuits, reputation damage and psychological distress.
Sadly, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and every situation must be handled differently when it comes to AI use.
A study of a high school computer science class learning Python programming, in which some students implemented ChatGPT in their studies using a custom AI platform that provided personalized examples, feedback, and exercises tailored to each student’s background. By using prompt engineering (designing text prompts for AI), the AI would adapt to each student’s proficiency level, customizing their curriculum and pace.
The group that included ChatGPT in their studies performed 15.4 percent higher across three quizzes than the group without it and reported higher satisfaction and confidence levels. 91 percent of students also said they preferred their AI-based learning.
While AI is a proven tool that can bolster learning, an over-reliance on AI Chatbots can’t replace a person at a social level.
“No matter what the level of words that a large language model or chatbot provides, one thing that you are not going to receive is something that we are hardwired to need, which is human interaction,” Key said.
The ethical use of AI also includes ensuring it is not used to replace essential human functions, such as socializing. Generative AI chatbots are built to agree with you, just like social media apps the developers of the bots are attempting to keep you engaged as much as possible.
Along with this, chatbots are specifically trained to mirror the user’s language and tone, validate and affirm user beliefs, and generate continued prompts to maintain conversation. This is known as “sycophancy,” defined as the practice of being obedient toward someone to gain an advantage. This is what AI was built to do.
“It’s to the point that it’ll even give a very emotionally based response when you try to disengage. It can say things to try and manipulate you, to keep you engaged,” Key said.
Some of the most dangerous documented cases of AI are when it is used as a conversation partner, rather than as a tool, especially if there is an existing mental health issue or trauma. There have been documented cases of people who suffer from psychotic episodes because of reliance on AI chatbots, which have led to death.
While AI has this dark side, that does not mean that it’s not an important tool to understand. Realizing the ethical implications of AI use and how they are built can help you succeed in school and work while using AI to your advantage.
Just as you take risks for yourself and others when you drive your car, be aware of the variables that could cause harm to yourself and others when you use AI. Have boundaries, know your guidelines, and use the tool in the safest way possible.
Students with questions can contact Dr. Martin Key at [email protected].
Picture by Steve Johnson on UnSplash.