Nathan Hsu ’28, Feature Writer

Depiction of AI robot (Photo courtesy of Britannica)

Let’s face it: school has evolved. It no longer includes the screeching of chalkboards or physical submission of assignments. At Newark Academy, learning has had a major “glow-up” thanks to a transition to digital learning. However, a new destabilizing force in the tech industry has arrived: Artificial intelligence. Here is a quick look at how AI is leveling up our learning experience.

1. AI: Your new study buddy

AI is like our really smart best friend, who can go a little overboard sometimes on the assignments, like creating flashcards that are far too intricate for the class. Tools like Grammarly and Khan Academy’s Khamingo make our learning experience easier by proofreading our essays and explaining advanced concepts in math. And of course, there is ChatGPT, which — if used correctly — can be a very versatile and helpful tool. 

2: Challenges of AI in Education

However, over-reliance on these tools poses a pressing danger. AI can create laziness, even unintentionally. If students use AI to do the heavy lifting on homework assignments or projects, we will miss out on key opportunities to build critical-thinking and problem solving skills,  which are among the most important abilities students should learn. 

Also, there is the risk of AI giving you wrong answers or completely fabricating data. They might sound smart and sophisticated, but more often than not, ChatGPT and other AI tools don’t always get the facts straight. If you are not careful, you could end up submitting something inaccurate or misleading. 

And let’s not forget about creativity. According to The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, “If humans don’t exercise their creativity or fail to be rewarded for it, creativity will be lost.” Indeed, AI tools are very helpful in sparking new ideas, but they can’t replace your unique personality and voic. This problem arises because AI tools are trained on massive datasets, and return information based on repeated patterns in those sets. Scientific American calls this an “autocorrection algorithm,” which is based on “laborious statistical analysis of hundreds of gigabytes of Internet text.” Since AI can only regurgitate ideas that have already been expressed, it lacks new perspectives. 

Furthermore, AI can reduce a student’s confidence in their own learning capabilities. Alex Kayyali ’27 notes,  “AI sounds good at first but it doesn’t include the diverse thoughts each kid has.” True creativity isn’t shown in the final product, but the journey a student has to go through to reach that final product — all the brainstorming, crumpled papers, and deleted sentences. So, while AI can be helpful, you should always remain in the driver’s seat.

3. Future of AI

As the world of technology rapidly evolves, teachers and students must be equipped to take advantage of this transformative technology in the future. As Zuva Chakabva ‘28 says, “We have got to adapt to the new technologies, because otherwise we wouldn’t be well prepared for the future.” Instead of cracking down on students who use AI, teachers should spend more time educating their students on the proper ways to use AI. The traditional view of AI as a negative and harmful tool is quickly becoming outdated. Teaching students how to use AI to boost their learning will empower us to enhance creativity and productivity. This ensures we still experience intellectual challenges that form the foundation of our education. 

Ultimately, the role of AI in education should be viewed as an opportunity to expand learning possibilities, not as a threat to learning. As the world of technology expands, both teachers and students should be not just passive participants, but as contributors to a future that uses AI as a powerful tool for learning, creativity, and growth.