Schools and the AI Epidemic

The amount of AI being used around the world is concerning. Some of the issues with using AI include draining water sources by using AI, (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot etc.) and harming society and the people around us by generating stolen art, pictures, and personal works. 

The thing is, we can’t really escape it. 

AI is everywhere now, when you look something up on Google, or go on apps like Instagram which uses a Meta AI search engine. Unfortunately, a major factor contributing to the use of AI, is our own schools. We are told not to use AI for classwork, homework, etc. but do schools follow these rules also? We are living in a world where AI exists, which is the “easy” route for some schools to make posters, slideshows, presentations, videos, and to generate assignments.

There is the philosophy that AI, day by day, is ruining our society. Not only does it affect our environment but it has led to the loss of jobs. Furthermore, it is prone to making mistakes. Since nowadays most search engines contain a use of AI, a lot of results are false and misinformation is being spread constantly. AI uses premade images to train its data, which also means it is stealing pieces from people around the world and taking it in as its own. Whether or not that be an artpiece, or an article like this, if fed to AI, it will train off it.

Schools may not know that using AI in social media posts and producing posters; such as homecoming posters or other materials being used, may be “borrowing” work. But the truth is, many schools are implementing these practices. At other schools, AI is a regular occurrence, using it for posters, slideshows, and school's daily video news. By student’s accounts, assignments in class involve the use of artificial intelligence, such as generating pictures for science projects or creating google quizzes with AI formed questions. AI is also used to create rubrics or feedback on homework. AI is here to stay and districts are embracing AI with open arms, whether or not the teachers or students agree or disagree. 

For some teachers, AI goes against everything they believe in. I interviewed Mrs Rodriguez, who teaches theater, and she gave me her opinion on why she is concerned with AI.

“Personally, I believe we all have brains, we should all think for ourselves and exercise our brains. AI derives answers from existing work, so someone owns the work AI is generating. If you are relying on AI you're not flexing your brain.” 

She also commented about how AI is affecting her work environment, “I think teachers are encouraged to use AI because it cuts down the workload. I choose to do things without AI, I want to model for my students, so if I'm telling them not to use it, I'm not using it either.” 

Mrs Rodriguez brings out a lot of good points. When asked about the use of AI images, she responded with, “A big use of AI in all schools is to generate graphics. I don’t agree with that. Especially when it comes to the creative artform space. I'm in favor of employing artists.” 

When I asked her if she thinks there's any instance where it’s okay to use AI she stated, 

“For me personally, no. I try to avoid AI in all possible ways that I can. I try my best not to use it, but if people are using it for accessibility purposes, I understand.” Lastly, she added, “ I am human and I am okay with making mistakes.”

I interviewed a second teacher who has a slightly different point of view. Ms. Jiannino, a science teacher, told me her thoughts on AI.

“I think it’s in really early stages, so it’s hard to say. But it’s kind of concerning that it is escaping the confines in which it’s supposed to be, it’s not following the “rules” so to speak. And yeah, there's a lot of a negative, dreary outlook as to where this can possibly go, and that's unnerving, unsettling.” 

She also stated, “I'm more reluctant. There are other teachers who do whole lesson plannings with it. I'm a little more slowgoing, I don’t trust it as much. I like to use my own creativity, develop things myself. But I can see the benefits, and I have played around with it. We’ve had workshops and trainings. Our bio teams want to do integrating Bio systems, and AI would definitely be helpful for setting up the labs and stuff like that, but I haven't taken advantage of it.” 

Though Ms. Jiannino can possibly see AI as being a helpful tool if used correctly, she can also see the disadvantages and states, 

“I’m really concerned about the data centers, and the amount of water AI consumes, it’s terrifying to be honest. It’s probably one of my greatest concerns. There is less than 1% of fresh water on the planet available for us to use, and I don’t think we should be dumping it into data centers. I'm really concerned about our education in the United States. I'd hate to see us fall behind, it’s a detriment to our youth.”

Students like Audrey Pereyra, a freshman at PHS told me,  “I hate AI because it drains resources like water. It also lowers people's critical thinking skills because they go to AI instead of thinking of their own ideas. Plus, it impersonates people and their work.”

Another freshman, Isabella Loreto, stated, ”People immediately go to AI instead of using their own brain, they use AI instead of trying, which can lower their intelligence. How are they going  to survive on their own if they keep using AI?.” 

Senior student at PHS, Jessica Gonzalez, said she thinks AI is a bad idea, 

“It limits creativity, wastes water, and it's not letting people think for themselves.” 

Both students and teachers agree AI is failing to help the world and is instead degrading our intelligence, and what could be called common skills. Artificial Intelligence is often used and marketed as to “Improve your work”, when perhaps instead it could be diminishing it.

With all of these concerns, what can students actually do?

While many students may be using AI, classes like ASB, Graphic Design, Art, and others are giving the chance for students to design their own work. These classes are important because they spark creativity and boost students’ confidence in their own progress, and not in an already finished product. 

What can our school do?

Offer challenges for students’ own designs, designating winners, and displaying designs around our campus to promote creativity. Teachers should be grading their own students' assignments without using AI which is prone to mistakes, and fact checking writings or reading them instead of using AI to detect itself. 

AI is an issue that is often overlooked and if not talked about, then we contribute to it. For me, seeing AI generated posters and social media posts that use AI, actually discourages me from participating in the activities they are advertising. It feels disjointed when students are not allowed to use AI for slideshows, posters, or assignments, but adults on our campus do. 

I can’t stop our school from using AI, but I can at least talk about it with others, share different points or views, and spread awareness on a tool that is being overused in our society and the education system within our schools.