By: Anaiya Patel

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human-like intelligence in machines, enabling them to perform tasks such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making that typically require human cognition. AI systems process vast amounts of data using algorithms to identify patterns, make predictions, and generate outputs like content or recommendations to achieve specific goals.

AI has seeped into the lives of students and much to everyone’s surprise has now integrated into schools. Claire Rafferty (10) says, “I think artificial intelligence is a tool that can be used for meaningful work and not manual labor and is typically harsh and frustrating to do when it comes to the human mind.” AI is whatever humans make it out to be as, it has been transformed to accommodate society’s purpose whether that be economically or psychologically.

According to Claire, “AI didn’t come from laziness, but from how humans naturally avoid things that don’t stimulate them; if something doesn’t spark interest, we don’t want to do it, and now, with constant screen exposure and fried dopamine levels, even tasks that used to feel mentally engaging are just dull, so we pass them off to AI not because we’re lazy, but because our brains crave stimulation that those tasks no longer give.”

Ethical backlash has become a reoccurring concern in regard to the use of AI. Claire states, “It is unethical to claim AI-generated art as your own work because you did not create the image; t he AI did. You might have written the prompt, but that does not mean you own the final product. In fact, unless the prompt itself is copyrighted, which is unlikely due to its vague nature, you do not even fully own that. So, claiming AI art as your personal creation is misleading and legally questionable.” As artificial intelligence becomes more accessible, the line between human creativity and machine-generated content is increasingly blurred. This raises important ethical and legal questions, especially when it comes to claiming AI-generated work as one’s own.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into education and daily life, it’s important to consider not only the ethical implications of its use but also the broader consequences on our environment. While concerns about academic honesty are often at the forefront, the environmental footprint of AI technologies is a growing issue that deserves equal attention.

“Using AI for assignments is ethically wrong, but another major issue is its environmental impact. AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot require massive server cooling, often using large amounts of water. This can strain natural resources, even affecting places like the Great Lakes. The rapid development of AI involves heavy trial and error, which wastes resources and harms ecosystems. We need to be aware of these consequences.”

Understanding these impacts encourages more responsible and sustainable use of technology in education and beyond. Claire states, “Using AI for essays or assignments is unethical because it defeats the purpose of learning. Assignments are meant to help you understand the material and reinforce key concepts. If you rely on AI to do the work, you skip the learning process and miss out on gaining real knowledge. This is especially important for tasks like analyzing court cases, where understanding the facts and opinions is essential.

“Skimming AI-generated content won’t help you retain anything, and it undermines your education.”

By raising awareness of these issues, we can begin to make more informed decisions about when and how to use AI tools.

In an age where technology is rapidly transforming education, students are increasingly faced with ethical decisions about how they use digital tools. Artificial intelligence, while powerful and convenient, raises important questions about academic integrity and the true purpose of learning. Claire states, “I admit I’ve used AI before, and I’m not a perfect person. But in a learning environment, it’s important to understand why assignments matter. They’re not just something to get through; they’re meant to help you learn and truly understand the material. Even if some assignments don’t seem important at first, most have a purpose that supports your growth. Using AI to skip that process means missing out on what the assignment is actually trying to teach you.” This perspective highlights the importance of engaging with schoolwork as a meaningful part of personal and academic development. Rather than viewing assignments as tasks to complete quickly, students benefit most when they embrace the learning process. By doing so, they not only gain knowledge but also build critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for success beyond the classroom.

AI has been incorporated, integrated, and implemented in the work force. Erin Stewart (11) states, “I think AI is effective and useful for the career world, but it can take people’s jobs, depending on the career path.” This further proves AI has been consumed by both teenagers and adults combined in different stages of life. Erin states, “When it comes to school, personally, it can help me with studying. Like, I can ask it to create me a study guide, prepare practice questions for me, or maximize good prompts.” Over time, AI has progressed, enhanced, and advanced it’s features and qualities making it more realistic and accurate allowing it to recognize and create complex patterns. Erin says, “Some changes I have noticed from freshman year to now is that chatbots have got gotten more effective and they’ve been more detailed with their responses.”

AI has become normalized in school as teachers explicitly discuss the responsible and reasonable use of AI in assignments as it’s difficult to control and contain the spread of such rapid growing technology. Erin states, “It has become harder to detect what is AI and not AI.” AI has developed and improved and will continue to do so which is why many say that AI is the future.

Erin states, “Even scrolling on my phone has made be actively wary of what is fake and real blurring my perception of the implications of AI and real life.”

It’s important to inform people of how to properly use AI in order to avoid, prevent, and mitigate these negative aspects of AI. Erin reflects, “I remember there was an AI flex Friday session once and I wish they informed us of environmental impacts of AI and what exactly does AI mean in terms of the bigger picture.”

AI leaves more questions than answers. AI has its ups and downs, pros and cons, flaws and benefits. What matters is how we as a society purpose and utilize AI. As we continue to explore the creative potential of AI, it’s essential to approach its use with honesty and responsibility. Recognizing the distinction between human authorship and machine output not only upholds ethical standards but also ensures respect for intellectual property in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.