By Abdullah Sabih

KUWAIT: Artificial Intelligence is an emerging tool that is transforming various sectors, including education, by providing tools that assist students with tasks ranging from the simplest of assignments to the most complex research papers. As it becomes increasingly integrated into educational systems, concerns rise about whether this growing reliance will drastically change educational systems in the generations to come.

Nandita Bhatia, an English teacher at Carmel School Kuwait, has noticed her students use AI for writing assignments and getting ideas for various projects. “They use it to formulate answers and get grammatically well-written essays,” she said. A student in Kuwait, who preferred to remain anonymous, reported minimal interactions between him and his classmates due to their increased reliance on AI. “Many of my classmates use AI for even the smallest of tasks, especially when working on group projects. Because of this, we often forget to consult each other before proceeding with a task,” he said.

A study by Forbes shows that 43 percent of students admit that they have tried to implement AI when accomplishing their school tasks. The most commonly used AI tools include Open AI’s ChatGPT, Grammarly, Tutor.ai and DALL-E. Learning Management Systems (LMS) have become the backbone of the modern academe. They are softwares designed to create, distribute and manage educational content and courses online. An LMS utilizes advanced AI algorithms to analyze student performance data and provide actionable insights. Along with this, AI-powered tutors have become increasingly popular. They act as personalized mentors by providing feedback and explanations, tailored to the student’s intellectual capacity.

“Although I don’t entirely depend on it, I do consult AI tools such as ChatGPT whenever needed. It gives me the answers to some specific questions that I am not able to find on Google,” said the student. However, Bhatia believes that students are neglecting to enhance their analytical skills by copying blindly. “Many times, they tend to deviate from the topic by generalizing or giving irrelevant information that AI tends to churn out,” she pointed out.

Tackling plagiarism

But AI also has quite a few advantages. It helps students build digital literacy, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills, which are among the most sought-after skill sets according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report. “Where skill development is concerned, I feel students are learning to answer in better language and use correct grammar,” said Bhatia.

Plagiarism is an issue of great concern as more and more students are using chatbots to write essays and articles and passing them off as their own without giving due credit. Like many teachers, Bhatia believes that plagiarism is a serious crime and teachers have easy access to apps that can sift through AI-transmitted work.

Although the student Kuwait Times interviewed uses chatbots, he admitted being overly dependent on them by plagiarizing essays “reduces one’s intellectual contribution and originality”. Bhatia said students should not become too reliant on AI. “Students must understand that AI is just a means to help and not an easy access to education. It can be used as a framework, but not work itself.” For students, AI is a double-edged sword that needs to be handled with care. “Students should utilize AI as a tool rather than a substitute. This will help enhance, and not replace, human abilities,” she added.