Worldwide, there are instances of students caught using artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools to cheat in schoolwork. It has become a worrying point for Malaysian parents.
Will their kids cheat? Will their children feel there is no need to learn writing skills because they can rely on AI? Will it affect those who want to pursue writing as a career? Is it still a viable occupation?
G. Theleganathan (main image, left), who has four kids in university, is worried about his children’s future.
“They will get the answers easily at their fingertips, which is bad for their development,” said Theleganathan.
He is concerned that they would not put the work and effort into writing pieces because there is a simpler and more convenient way.
“No one will know how to write beautifully, as they will ask ChatGPT to write for them,” he said.
Hishamuddin Hud Ibrahim (main image, centre), whose teenage daughter loves to write, believes that “the output quality they (AIs) produce differs from that of someone who possesses a deeper knowledge of the subject at hand”.
He believes AI technology won’t render writers obsolete in the foreseeable future.
“Writing is an art form, with each writer possessing a distinct writing style that contributes to their unique identity. This writing style consistency is a crucial factor that attracts audiences to their favourite writers,” said Hishamuddin.
“AI may not be capable of producing writing styles that align with the consistency and uniqueness that audiences seek from their favourite writers.”
Hishamuddin hopes students receive proper guidance on how to use AI writing tools effectively.
He believes “AI writing tools have the potential to help improve our thought processes by providing correct language usage”.
“It is still crucial to appreciate the context behind the matter we intend to address when we use AIs to obtain the intended outcome,” he said.
Hishamuddin said that he has no particular concerns about his daughter using AI writing tools.
“However, I would like to ensure she has grasped the fundamental concepts without the aid of AI.”
He advises using AI with caution because of plagiarism but believes these tools could be beneficial in the context of education.
“Nevertheless, the employment of this technology should be subject to regulation, with particular emphasis on ensuring that students are equipped with the basic understanding of educational syllabus before they are allowed to use AI. It could serve to prevent potential distortions in the learning process.”
R. Rooban (main image, right) admitted being ill at ease about his secondary school daughter interacting with ChatGPT because it would limit her creativity.
Rooban said there are benefits to AI writing tools in school but warned: “You have to use them wisely and correctly. Know the extent you can use these apps but keep in touch with your creativity.”
There are many ways parents can prevent ChatGPT or other AI tools from interfering with their children’s studies and future.
Parents should also understand that while ChatGPT can trawl the internet for a wide range of information, it can’t discern fact from fiction.
Parents can double-check the content it creates for accuracy and recommend a more reliable and safe source for research to their kids.
Many AI writing tools state that their intention is to “generate appropriate and informative responses”. However, there’s no guarantee that this will always happen. AI remains a tool to be used or abused.
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The views expressed here are the personal opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.
