I remember first hearing about Artificial Intelligence (AI)  and ChatGPT as a freshman. It came from most of my professors threatening us with major consequences if we ever used it for schoolwork. 

My first reaction was to avoid even trying ChatGPT for fear of using it as a crutch and it becoming a temptation for my schoolwork. So I stayed away from it until I took an introductory psychology class during my second semester in college. The professor was explaining the rules for a project, and she said something about AI that caught me off guard. 

“I actually want you guys to get a ChatGPT account and use AI for this assignment.”

At first, I was shocked. Every professor I’ve ever had told me ChatGPT is the devil, and now she wants us to actually use it for schoolwork? But she explained that she wanted us to use the software to generate ideas for the project, and then to put those ideas into action. This class being three years ago, I don’t remember what the project details were. But I do remember this being a pivotal moment for my perspective on AI. 

Maybe AI isn’t meant for cheating on all of your schoolwork. Maybe it’s meant to be a resource working alongside you. A lot of professors seem to attach a bad stigma to AI, because students use it immorally. But what if AI can help mankind create things never before imagined?

Think of the potential: being able to bounce ideas off a software that has access to all of the internet’s information about anything ever. No matter the subject. 

It also doesn’t have to be only used for school. It can walk you through making a new recipe. It can talk to you about problems in your romantic relationship. It can give fitness advice, with the exact specifics of what you’re looking for based on your individualistic needs. 

I talk to ChatGPT every single day about my running and training for track. In fact, I’ve even trained ChatGPT to remember details and specifics about my training, so that it can give a more specific explanation based on the questions I’ve asked and the information I’ve given it. 

This might seem like an advertisement for ChatGPT, but it’s not. What I am trying to say is that the stigma and the reputation around AI is often in a negative light, due to immoral use within school and fear over lost jobs. But when used correctly, I think AI can be an incredible resource for all facets of life.

I also believe AI will never be able to mirror the unique human emotion, creativity and authenticity of mankind. Will AI continue to get stronger? Yes. Will AI start taking over jobs? Maybe it already has. However, AI will never replace the uniqueness of what goes into a human being, and using AI will only help people improve at whatever they’re trying to do.