From classrooms to Hollywood, artificial intelligence is shaping students’ lives
From facial recognition on our devices to the latest innovation platforms such as ChatGPT (an AI chatbot), there’s no doubt that AI is impacting students’ experiences in the classroom. But its impact doesn’t stop once your students leave school. AI is impacting industries that your students might be interested in as future careers.
If you’ve seen the news or been on social media lately, you’ve likely picked up on the fact that writers and actors in Hollywood are currently on strike. And if you haven’t, here’s a quick rundown on why:
- On May 2, 2023, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), a labor union full of writers and media professionals, began its strike due to the way AI and streaming services have impacted the way content is made in today’s digital age.
- Since the ChatGPT launched in November 2022, concerns about how AI will impact the space haven’t only affected Hollywood, but it’s become a major topic in the education space, too. In fact, according to a recent survey of 12 to 18-year-olds, 58% of them say they have used ChatGPT.
While Hollywood and your classroom may not have had much in common before, they now share the same concern: How is Artificial Intelligence going to impact the work of real people (or students)? And how can we embrace this technology while not allowing it to replace the skills necessary to succeed in life?
The threat of AI to creative professions
Recent strikes by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) have brought attention to concerns regarding the potential threats AI poses to creative professionals and how it can be used to replace human work (a concern many educators share). Together, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have teamed up to demand that regulations surrounding the use of AI in their field be put in place.
Amongst their demands, the WGA issued the statement that “AI can’t write or rewrite literary material; can’t be used as source material; and [works covered by union contracts] can’t be used to train AI.”
Hollywood’s strike due to AI may seem distant for educators, but the reality is that our students’ experiences in and out of the classroom are already impacted due to the rise in AI. Not to mention they’re likely coming across videos or posts on social media about the writer’s strike, with #writersstrike2023 having over 21.1 million views on TikTok.
By understanding the implications of AI on all industries (not just education), educators can stay ahead of the curve and empower their students to navigate it ethically and responsibly.
AI’s impact on our students
Going on strike isn’t exactly the answer educators are looking for when it comes to dealing with AI platforms like ChatGPT, but banning AI isn’t the solution either. Earlier this year, New York City Public Schools chose to ban ChatGPT on district networks and ended up rolling back that ban just a few months later. When explaining why the district chose to revoke the ban, David Banks, Chancellor of the New York City Public School District shared that, “the knee-jerk fear and risk overlooked the potential of generative AI to support students and teachers, as well as the reality that our students are participating in and will work in a world where understanding generative AI is crucial.”
While a fear and restrict approach may be an attractive solution to some, it overlooks the fact that our students are growing up with AI platforms like ChatGPT or Snapchat’s My AI (a chatbot powered by ChatGPT that’s accessible on Snapchat), regardless of if we ban it on our school networks. This means we have to proactively equip our students to navigate AI positively.
TSI’s Take
At the end of the day, Artificial Intelligence (AI) existed long before chatbots like ChatGPT or Snapchat’s My AI. Instead of scaring and restricting our students from AI, how can we flip the script and empower them to navigate it safely and responsibly? Here are a few tips:
- Focus on social-emotional skills: With the capabilities of AI expanding into digital art, writing, and more, ensuring your students have strong social-emotional skills like collaboration and adaptability matters now more than ever. Building your students’ social and emotional skills will give them a competitive edge over artificial intelligence. Psst. 92% of hiring professionals say soft skills matter as much or more than hard skills.
- Incorporate hands-on AI projects: Instead of shying away from using AI in the classroom, educators around the nation are encouraging their students to use it for projects, outlines, and more. Some educators are even incorporating ChatGPT usage into their class syllabi.
- Encourage open discussions and debates about AI: Encourage your students to think critically about how AI decisions can impact individuals, communities, and society as a whole. Students have opinions and want an opportunity to share their voices and use their mics for good, so what better way to let them do so than to have them discuss a trending topic?
In our 9th-12th Grade #WinAtSocial Lesson, Breaking down ChatGPT and the role of Artificial Intelligence in our lives, over 2,200 students shared their thoughts on how schools should navigate ChatGPT. The results? 40% of students said schools should “allow it and teach students how to use it well” and 38% of them said “allow it but only for certain subjects or projects.” Notice how students aren’t advocating for an AI ban, but instead are looking to educators to teach them how to use it wisely and well? Educators have a chance to make a difference in students’ lives when it comes to ChatGPT and AI, and we can do this by working together and having effective conversations about navigating AI positively.
Not a partner but looking to run this lesson and others that are similar? Request a demo of our 3rd-12th grade #WinAtSocial Lessons here. Or, if you need a deep dive into what ChatGPT is and how students and educators are using it, here’s your tell-all guide!
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