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The SOARce

AI Chat bots: What are they and why are they controversial?

By Maria Montoya





There has recently been talk about AI chatbots where you can enter a prompt and it can write a high mark essay. Of course it lacks a bit in creative writing for it is at a high writing level for argumentative and informational pieces. Though seemingly a great source some teachers may see it as a cheating tool.

These chatbots are nothing new, there have been works of them way before now. In 1966 there was a chatbot that could simulate a human conversation which was created by Joseph Weizenbaum at the AI laboratory at MIT. Currently there is OpenAI which was founded by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and others in 2015 in San Francisco. They had built the current ChatGPT released on November 30, 2022 which was built based off of their GPT-3.


Asking the AI with the prompt of “In 350 words what is the controversy of using AI chatbots to write essays”

“The use of AI chatbots to write essays has sparked a significant amount of controversy in the academic community. Some argue that these chatbots can save students time and provide a valuable tool for language learning, while others argue that they can discourage students from developing their own writing skills and lead to a lack of originality and creativity in academic work.

One of the main concerns about the use of AI chatbots for writing essays is that they may lack originality and creativity. These chatbots are often based on pre-programmed data, which may not take into account the nuances and complexities of a topic. As a result, essays generated by chatbots may be formulaic and lack the personal voice and perspective that is often required for good academic writing.

Another concern is that the use of AI chatbots may discourage students from developing their own writing skills. If students rely too heavily on chatbots to write essays, they may not learn to think critically or creatively, which are essential skills for academic and professional success. Additionally, students may not learn to conduct research or to cite sources properly, which is important for academic integrity.

There are also concerns that AI chatbots may be used to plagiarize, as they can generate essays that are similar to existing work and may not be easily detected. This can lead to academic misconduct and can have serious consequences for students.

Another concern is that AI-generated essays may not always be accurate or reliable, as they are often based on pre-programmed data and may not take into account the nuances and complexities of a topic. This may lead to lower quality of education and can be a problem for teachers and professors when assessing student's work.

In conclusion, while AI chatbots may provide a valuable tool for saving time and assessing student understanding, it's important to consider the potential drawbacks of using these chatbots for writing essays. It's essential for teachers and professors to educate their students on the proper use of AI-generated essays, and to ensure that students are not overly reliant on them. Additionally, it's important to evaluate the quality, accuracy, and originality of the AI-generated essays and use them as a supplement rather than a replacement for human-written essays. Additionally, it is vital for institutions and educators to establish guidelines and policies on the use of AI-generated essays to ensure academic integrity and to prevent plagiarism. Furthermore, it's crucial to consider the ethical implications of using AI-generated essays and to ensure that they align with the values and goals of education.” - ChatGPT


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