Karina Rodriguez
Staff Writer
Open AI, the company that owns ChatGPT, is on track to release a sophisticated artificial intelligence model with “Strawberry.” With apparent enhanced reasoning abilities, Strawberry could solve math and coding problems with improved accuracy. But no AI is without its serious pitfalls – particularly in education.
The emergence of artificial intelligence, and ChatGPT in particular has made professors, such as Professor of Political Science Jason Neidleman, rethink how they craft assignments for their students.
“Most of the assignments I’ve given historically could just be easily inserted into – typing the prompt into – AI,” Neidleman said. “So I had to rethink the entire way I assess student work.”
Neidleman also finds himself guiding his students on how to use AI as a tool for better comprehension.
“One of my students said, ‘Oh I have trouble reading this text,’ and I said ‘Oh well AI is perfect for that, like as you’re reading it you can ask the AI,’” Neidleman said.
Artificial intelligence is seen through many lenses and perspectives. Yousef Daneshbod, associate professor of mathematics and chair of the mathematics department, believes AI and Strawberry in particular will enhance what he is teaching.
“I am actually excited and I think it’ll revolutionize the way we think of mathematics,’ Daneshbod said. “I’m all for it.”
Daneshbod sees artificial intelligence as a tool.
“I don’t think of it as a tool for cheating,” he said. “It’s almost like you have a friend, a companion, that helps you understand things,” Daneshbod said.
Artificial intelligence has proven to be powerful in helping professors with projects outside of the classroom. Juan Rodriguez, adjunct professor of computer science, uses it for software purposes in his professional life. He builds websites for his software company.
He uses it to get started on website projects, not create the whole website for him.
“(It) streamlines the process,” Rodriguez said. “I usually have ChatGPT generate a starter code.”
For many educators, however, there is a necessary adjustment. And no AI program should be seen by students or instructors as a shortcut or replacement for critical thinking.
Artificial intelligence misses the human element, which is incredibly important, said Shannon Mathews, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
“It is a technology,” Mathews said. “How can we find ways to use it as a tool? I don’t want it to substitute my human input.”
Karina Rodriguez can be reached at karina.rodriguez3@laverne.edu.
Karina Rodriguez is a senior journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism, and editor-in-chief of the Campus Times. She has previously served as sports editor, social media editor, arts editor and a staff writer.
