Artificial intelligence is a new and powerful tool we are learning to navigate and manipulate. With such a wide variety of features, generative AI has the range to complete tasks, answer questions and explain complex concepts. In schools, it may tempt students to cheat on tests or have it complete assignments, decreasing critical thinking skills and creativity. An MIT study also found that generally, the more time users spend talking to ChatGPT, the lonelier they feel.
On the other hand, some argue that it would be beneficial to understand how to use AI for the long-term, as it has already infiltrated social media platforms, businesses and now, school systems. School systems are a particularly tricky area for AI implementation. Schools are supposed to teach children fundamental educational skills. Is AI a tool that can be used to make teaching and learn- ing easier or is it destroying critical thinking skills?
Some students believe that AI has no place in Meridian.
“Students should not be using AI since it should be limited to worthwhile purposes and not brainrot,” sophomore Asha Nath remarked. “AI could do some good, but no one is using it to make a meaningful dif- ference – people just use it as a shortcut or entertain- ment.”
On the other hand, some students believe that there are some acceptable ways to use AI. “I think that it depends on the situation,” noted sophomore Aarya Kamboh,
“If you are using AI on assignments, it shouldn’t be allowed. Although I personally use it to help me study, which is really helpful, I think that should be allowed.” Notably, a large amount of information provided by AI is incorrect or misleading. A study led by BBC found that major AI assistants like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini were wrong at least 45% of the time.
AI is technology advanced far beyond calculators or Google. It is capable of significantly more. AI can write essays, interpret data, create fake images, and much more. Some see the extensiveness of AI as a new form of innovation, while others believe it is a “Pandora’s Box” of the future.
Principal Peter Laub is hoping to utilize AI in several beneficial ways.
Laub commented that AI tools “make it rather easy to abandon a culture of integrity,” but that Meridian “spent much of the year on a concentrated journey to enhance our collective understanding of academic integrity.”
An AI committee was newly formed at Meridian to collect community input about decisions regarding AI in schools. The group was composed of students, staff and teachers. The committee spoke about their feelings towards AI at Meridian.
Many felt that AI should be incorporated as it is already “pervasive.”
“[AI] can lead you to a lot of better sources by starting you at one point,” senior Henry Herman noted.
Other students felt that AI was a technological revelation that would be useful in schools.
“I feel like being familiar with the technology and having that ability to prompt it and get what you want out of it is very valuable,” senior Aiden Harper commented. “And if we try to stay away from AI and make it completely human, I’m sure to a degree, learning would improve, but you have to be a little future-focused.”
The committee did acknowledge concerns about AI “replacing” teacher feedback.
“It’s that connection with the teacher and being able for them to give their input, I feel like that’s a big part of the learning process, and taking that out makes it feel a whole lot less rewarding,” said Harper. The committee addressed concerns about different levels of AI accessibility for different students. With normal ChatGPT, students can reach a limit on the number of prompts they can request. More wealthy students may purchase ChatGPT Premium, allowing them to ask unlimited prompts and giving them a possible advantage in the school system.
“They might have an advantage in class, and that could prove unfair to other students,” Herman reiter- ated.
On Dec. 16 and 17, the SCA Exec Board held a town hall, where students were encouraged to give advice about AI use at Meridian. The information will be taken into consideration when Superintendent Terry Dade forms a standardized district policy about AI in schools.
Students spoke out, saying AI “prepares you for the real world,” while others noted that AI “does a lot of damage to creativity as a whole.”
Meridian is already seeing forms of AI implementation. On Dec. 17, Principal Laub wrote that “all MHS students and staff now have access to gen-AI tools via Google’s Gemini software.” In the same update, he wrote that “beginning January 5, access to ChatGPT will be redirected to Securly AI, making ChatGPT use safer for students on their FC-CPS devices.”
It appears that AI will be incorporated into Meridian one way or another. Regardless of the possible issues, Meridian administration is ready to tackle the uncertainty that comes with this new technology, rather than attempting to weave education around it.
The exact future of AI at Meridian is still unclear. What is clear is that AI already plays a significant role in our school.
