The use of AI has led to disruptive changes in the education sector. On the upper side, it has facilitated learning for students, instructors, and the institution at large. Its broad applicability, such as in administrative tasks, virtual-enabled tutors, and research, are among the many advantages of AI integration in education. Despite the many benefits, there have been increased cases of misuse among students and ethical concerns on matters of safety and responsible use. Thus, just like how students need to pay attention to safety and ethical concerns when they pay for essay services to ensure they get genuine help and uphold academic integrity, they also need to follow proper practices for using AI.
A good example of a case of misuse is the area of large language models such as GPT, where students are using generative AI irresponsibly to do assignments. Irresponsible usage undermines the integrity of the education system and may result in disastrous effects on students in their academic work and their long-term professional careers. It thus prompts a discussion of responsible AI usage to ensure that students don’t misuse this great breakthrough. Here’s what you should know about the responsible use of AI.
Accountability
AI is simply a system; however, it is good to note that you are accountable for the outcomes of its use. One of the most fascinating things about AI in education is its ability to help in tasks such as research, summarizing documents, problem-solving, and generating content ideas. However, it is critical to understand that AI is a complementary tool and should not be used to substitute or replace hard work efforts. It implies that relying entirely on AI to write your essays is wrong and could harm the development of your writing skills. It also lessens your creativity and problem-solving skills as a student. It is not wrong to use AI to help you with tasks; however, it should be used as a tool to aid in decision-making rather than as the sole authority. Always maintain a critical mindset when dealing with AI output, and verify the reliability by crosschecking the information with verified sources.
Reliability
The reliability principle in AI usage addresses the concept of accuracy and consistency of AI-generated output. AI systems operate on probabilities; thus, unlike human beings, they cannot verify the accuracy of the information with certainty. Therefore, AI is not always accurate and can lead to misleading information. Moreover, AI utilizes results that are available from the web. Therefore, due to the constant updates in data, you may find that the output is inconsistent, especially if the AI is not up to date. It is good to understand that while bots are good at research, they are prone to inconsistency. It is thus crucial to thoroughly vet all AI output to ensure accuracy and consistency.
Fairness and Inclusiveness
Humans design bots and are, therefore, prone to the same prejudices people have; if the information used to train a bot contained prejudice, then the result would also be prejudiced. For example, if the training data contained prejudice in terms of religion, gender, sexual orientation, racism, and stereotyping, then the output will contain the same. Inequality and unfairness of the output only serve to increase existing inequalities in society. Thus, assessing the level of the output’s fairness is always important.
Privacy and Security
Given that the use of AI in education is the new normal, it is important to protect data privacy. Data hacking and the sharing of data as a result of exploitative third parties contracts have been on the rise. It, therefore, implies that there is a need to be very careful when dealing with AI-enabled platforms. Names and emails, for instance, are part of the user’s sensitive information that should be protected because if they fall into the wrong hands, they can be used for malicious purposes. A thing to do before signing up for an AI-enabled platform is to review the policy agreement to see that they do not violate your privacy and will not sell your data to third parties.
Another thing that you should know is that AI may pose a certain threat that is connected to enhancing its algorithms. Some AI firms have admitted that they have used data from users to enhance their systems. It means that they keep your data in their system. By understanding these risks, you will be in a position to guard yourself against possible dangers.
Remember, protecting your privacy is your duty. It can be done if you make it a rule to only use credible AI tools. So, get your bots from companies that have received numerous accolades for the protection of consumers’ data.
Transparency
Transparency is knowing the extent of a bot’s capability and its limitations. Think of it this way: is it possible to use a machine without referring to its manual? Certainly not, and that is why a manual comes with every gadget you purchase. AI should be used responsibly, and this can only be so if the user understands how the platform works. It entails the knowledge of the various capabilities that the bot possesses, the extent of its constraints, and the disclosure of the functioning of the bot. Thus, it is advisable to first get a grasp of what the bot does and whether it will benefit your objectives and duties. By questioning the rationale behind the bot, you will not copy and paste output or use it as a substitute for personal effort.
Wrapping Up
Of course, there are numerous advantages to using AI in school, but there are also some disadvantages of this new technology. Therefore, it is important to know the possible danger that may occur when you use bots wrongly. They are concerned with the bots’ accountability, the credibility of the output produced by the bots, the question of equity in the information produced by the bots, and privacy concerns.