Humans have come a long way since the industrial revolution, which has helped bring in new technology and advancement to our society. We created these technologies to help make human lives easier and more efficient, allowing us to further advance beyond any species on Earth.
Now, in the early 21st century, we have again developed revolutionary advancement in tech. A software that is able to read, write, draw, create videos, and analyze work. Basically, it can do the thinking for us to make our tasks in daily life easier. This the power of artificial intelligence (AI), a complex technology that uses algorithms to solve problems, in this case the prompt requested. Over time, this machine keeps collecting data, which further allows the AI to advance making it more responsive, accurate, and come up with professional response.
In 2022, since the release of ChatGPT, many people have put it to use by making the AI write essays, solve math problems, do physics, and other school or job work. It’s great! Students and adults get to save a lot of time, for example, work that would normally take a person hours to complete in just minutes! However, over relying on this technology has a detrimental impact on one’s critical thinking and learning.
A study has been conducted by researchers at MIT to see how ChatGPT impacts the human brain. The study involved 54 subjects with ages ranging from 18 to 39 years old. They are divided into three groups. Group A only uses ChatGPT, group B uses the browser, and group C uses only their prior knowledge or brain. Each group was asked to write multiple SAT essays which would help stimulate their brain in order to record each subject’s brain activity with EEG.
The results were shocking. Group A or the ChatGPT users performed the worst in brain engagement, linguistics, and behavioral levels. While the other groups’ performances were very similar, the group that used only brain power showed the highest brain activity. Also, the ChatGPT users after several months were given the same test and got lazier, which resulted in copying and pasting in their essays. Although this study hasn’t been peer reviewed and the sample size was small, it’s still not truly verified that this would apply for everyone. However, it is still concurring to see these results, even with a small sample size.
This is something that needs to be addressed at our schools, especially to the younger students. The younger students are still in a stage where their brain is still developing, and having them relying on ChatGPT for doing work would not allow their brain to be properly developed. The use of ChatGPT is very abundant at almost every school where there is at least one student who can’t do any school work without using ChatGPT. Not realizing how detrimental it is to one’s critical thinking, creativity, and health.
It’s not all doom and gloom. AI can be used to help students and adults further advance their learning. We can use ChatGPT when we want ideas to complete certain tasks, but don’t overdo it. The key is balance. If you can recall and explain your classwork or work in detail, that means you used ChatGPT correctly to help you further learn an idea.
Remember, ChatGPT is a tool, just like a calculator that can help speed up your work and your learning, so don’t let it replace YOU.
