Some students use AI as a learning tool, while others use it for different purposes. What are your thoughts on AI? Do you think it helps you learn by providing explanations, or do you see it merely as a way to cheat? ChatGPT is a program that can assist with studying, learning, and tutoring, but its widespread use by students for cheating has led teachers to question the authenticity of students’ work. Opinions among students vary on whether AI serves as an educational tool or undermines learning.
To better understand how students feel about this topic, I interviewed a few individuals to determine whether AI is helpful and to gauge their perspectives.
When I asked Karen Lopez, a junior, about her thoughts, she said, “I use it to give me information about things that I don’t know yet. I feel like it makes you learn more because it tells you what the topic is.” Karen’s response indicates that some students use AI primarily to study when necessary; they view it as a tool rather than a means of cheating. For many students, AI can clarify difficult topics and provide explanations for concepts they don’t understand in class. It can also serve as a quick resource when they need assistance.
Another junior, Esmeralda Ramirez, stated, “I use it to help me with my assignments. I think it helps students cheat because it just provides the answer, sometimes with an explanation of how it got there, but students often just copy the given answer.” Esmeralda believes that AI can facilitate cheating, as students might be tempted to copy responses instead of striving to understand the material themselves.
Savannah Barajas, also a junior, said, “I use AI to help me with my assignments if I don’t understand what I’m doing, but sometimes I don’t use it at all. I think AI encourages cheating because students find it easier to take shortcuts rather than seek help.” Savannah’s opinion reflects that while AI can be beneficial when used responsibly, over-reliance on it can impair understanding. It can effectively explain challenging problems or provide examples that aid comprehension.
From these interviews, it is clear that students have diverse perspectives on this issue. Some use AI to study and enhance their understanding, while others believe it primarily simplifies cheating. Overall, AI is neither inherently good nor bad; its effectiveness depends on how students choose to use it. If they resort to using it to copy answers, this leads to a lack of comprehension regarding the material.
As AI continues to evolve and become more widely known, students and schools need to strike a balance between utilizing it as a learning tool and ensuring that students remain engaged with their own work. After considering various viewpoints, I believe that AI can be beneficial to students when used appropriately—specifically, to explain concepts they struggle with and support their studying. However, if students rely solely on it for answers and fail to understand the material, it can hinder their learning and personal development.
