The divergent perspectives of these students and academics highlight the complexity of integrating AI into education and research. On one side, we have staunch opponents like Charlie Chowdhry and Meike Wartenbergh, who raise legitimate ethical and environmental concerns—plagiarism, energy consumption, biased datasets, and a dilution of human thought process. Their skepticism is a healthy reminder that technology isn't a panacea; it carries baggage that must not be ignored.
On the other hand, voices like Frank Bohn illustrate a pragmatic approach: yes, AI has risks—faked media, misinformation—but it also has undeniable utility as a tool for enhancing understanding and streamlining research. His willingness to embrace AI cautiously underscores a mature viewpoint—use it to augment human capabilities rather than replace them.
What this dialogue reveals is that AI tools are not inherently good or evil; their impact depends on how we wield them. For students insecure about their writing or overwhelmed by research, AI can be a tutor, a stepping stone, or a brainstorming partner—not a crutch to abandon skill development. For educators, the challenge lies in crafting curricula that harness AI's strengths while fostering critical thinking and original insight.
Importantly, resistance to AI on ethical or environmental grounds should provoke innovation, not dismissal. Can we design leaner, less energy-hungry models? Can transparency and attribution be baked into AI outputs to tackle plagiarism concerns? These are exciting frontiers demanding collaboration between technologists, ethicists, and users.
In the end, it’s about balance and context. AI isn’t here to replace the human touch but to enhance it if used thoughtfully. Just as calculators didn’t kill arithmetic skills but transformed mathematics education, AI could become an indispensable learning companion—provided we keep our eyes wide open, our ethics intact, and our minds engaged. So, rather than fearing a dystopian cleaning-spying machine, let’s be the architects of a future where AI complements human creativity, not compromises it. Source: They are not using AI: ‘Avoiding it is actually really easy’
