By Bella Battalini

ChatGPT is quickly becoming students’ best friends, and teachers’ worst enemy. All over social media we’re seeing more videos of professors lecturing their classes on using this AI tool, and the consequences they’ll face if caught. Still, students everywhere are continuing to use it, because of its accessibility, and ease it gives you on assignments. But how do we know when the ease of using these systems could be causing more harm than good? If artificial intelligence is answering our questions and writing our papers, what information are we retaining? And if we can ask a question and get an answer in the span of a minute, do we even need teachers at that point? ChatGPT is just one of the many AI developments that puts humans at risk of losing jobs, no longer having fulfillment if jobs were to be lost, being outsmarted by machines, and wiping out lower income individuals and families whose jobs can easily be done by AI (Future of Life). This comes from the recent petition created by the Future of Life Institute who wants AI developers to take a six month halt in their work efforts. The hope with this halt is that AI developers can be given safety protocols that can help with their rapid development, and give society a chance to adapt to this new technology (MarketWatch). Of course, there is the other side in which we will need people to control this technology to keep it running, which would
create more jobs. According to the world Economic Forum’s “The Future of Jobs Report 2020”, AI is expected to replace 85 million jobs worldwide by 2025, but also create 97 million new jobs in the same timeframe (Thomas). Both are crazy numbers, and depending on how you look at it, there can be positives and negatives to both. While 97 million jobs being created is great, assuming most of them will have to do with things in the technology field, only those currently working in that field, or with a good background and education in it can hold these jobs. Of course people can go to school to learn, but for some that isn’t always the most accessible option, so they would be left with nothing.

The jobs most likely to be affected by AI development are blue-collar workers such as machine operators, truck drivers, cashiers, and even waiters can be replaced by AI technology and robots. Who is most often working these jobs? Those of a lower income, and often with less education. There are some jobs AI might be able to assist, but never replace such as teachers, writers and editors, lawyers, social workers, medical professionals and more. While AI can replace many jobs and people, it can’t replace human connection many of these jobs require. I can’t imagine being taught by technology, just as much as I would never want it to give me my medical advice. The human connection, and feelings that come along with it is something we need, and while it’s not always seen in blue-collar jobs, regardless people need it to stay sane and feel connected to one another. We are in a technological world, with new advancements being created everyday, but the rapid development of AI technology within the past few years is
alarming and needs to be checked in order to ensure our world isn’t taken over by it.