Will AI Diminish Your Intelligence? Your Choice—Here’s What to Consider
Understanding the Role of AI in Education
In a recent discussion with university educators, concerns were raised about student reliance on AI for educational tasks. These educators feared that students, who will inevitably become future industry professionals, might develop an unhealthy dependence on AI tools. The central question that emerged was whether interventions are necessary to guide AI use among learners.
A Balanced Perspective on AI Technology
The relationship between technology and human development is complex. A historical perspective can provide clarity. Technologies like the printing press, radio, television, the internet, and smartphones have all faced criticism at various times.
- The printing press raised fears of overwhelming society with unfiltered information.
- Radio was criticized for distracting people and promoting sensational content.
- Television has long been blamed for diminishing attention spans and critical thinking.
- More recently, the internet and smartphones ignited debates about information overload and the effects of social media.
Thus, it becomes clear that the impact of technology is not inherently detrimental or beneficial; it largely depends on how individuals engage with it. Internet access in many developed nations has led to a vast amount of information being available. However, the way this information is used varies among individuals. Some may leverage the internet for educational resources, while others may fall into time-wasting activities like watching cat videos. The same applies to modern AI chatbots.
Impact of AI on Creativity and Professional Growth
To illustrate the varying impacts of AI, consider an HR manager tasked with organizing a well-being event for software engineers. In a certain scenario, the manager might prompt a chatbot: “I’m an HR manager at [company name]. Design a two-hour event that will improve team well-being. Provide detailed activities with timestamps.”
In this case, the HR manager solely relies on the chatbot for creativity, which may result in an efficient completion of the task. However, this approach may limit the professional growth of the individual. Instead of simply outsourcing creativity, how can one effectively utilize AI while fostering development?
Finding Value in AI Guidance
The key lies in resisting the urge to seek ready-made solutions. A more beneficial use of AI can be as a guide for personal insight and skills enhancement. For ages, methods like Socratic questioning have encouraged critical thinking and intellectual growth. Today, AI can serve as a resourceful partner that helps refine ideas and challenge assumptions.
Promoting Creativity through AI
In a contrasting scenario, the HR manager could ask an AI: “I’m an HR manager at [company name], tasked with designing a two-hour event to improve the well-being of the software engineering team. Guide my planning without giving direct solutions. Offer questions that stimulate my thinking, highlight potential gaps in my proposals, and encourage my independence and creativity.”
This second approach allows the HR manager to grow significantly as a professional, utilizing AI as a tool for exploration rather than simply a problem-solver. It showcases how the use of AI can vary greatly based on the intent behind its application.
Using AI as a Learning Aid
Some educators advocate for restricting students’ use of AI to prevent intellectual laziness and ensure they acquire essential skills. However, such an approach seems antiquated, given the irreversible nature of the AI revolution.
Instead of banning AI tools, it’s more productive to encourage students to utilize AI as a means of enhancing their learning. I often tell my students, “Please use AI if you want, but not to replace your own thinking. Use it to augment your learning and facilitate deeper understanding.”
In essence, think of AI as a supportive figure: consider how a parent might guide a child, promoting independence rather than solving every problem for them. By adopting this mindset, one can harness AI to facilitate personal and intellectual growth.
