For most students, the idea of having AI software write for them is exciting, but for teachers, it is just another headache. Then again, teachers themselves are using ChatGPT so isn’t it hypocritical to prevent students from using it?

Chat GPT, is a language model-based chatbot, which enables users to refine and steer a conversation towards a desired length, format, style, level of detail and language.

This technology has developed quicker than humans can keep up with and the repercussions of that are now showing. 

It’s easy to understand why schools and teachers feel threatened. 

ChatGPT is a freakishly capable tool that landed in their midst with no warning and it performs well across all areas including academic subjects. 

With the rise of ChatGPT, there have been ethical questions raised about AI-generated writing and concerns about whether the answers ChatGPT gives are accurate.

Schools have been quick to block ChatGPT on school networks in a bid to stop cheating and plagiarism. 

But is that necessary? Or fair?

Blocking the website only works at school. Students still have full access to it at home and outside of school. 

While I don’t use ChatGPT to write for me, by asking it a question, I have been able to access ideas that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise 

It begs the question, is there really much difference between typing a question into ChatGPT vs Google? 

The only difference I see between the two is the way information is presented. 

With Google, students have to go through multiple websites to select information whereas ChatGPT collates that into a ‘copyable’ format. 

Through school, I have seen teachers harness the capabilities of ChatGPT to help them with the likes of giving feedback on work and suggesting improvements to writing. 

While that may be more time-efficient for teachers, it certainly doesn’t feel personal. As good as the advice may be, who wants to be corrected by technology? 

If teachers can use ChatGPT to help with their workload, why not students?

Yes, it’s important to consider the ethical issues around ChatGPT, but both teachers and students should be able to access the technology. At this stage, ChatGPT is not a replacement for human writing, but just a tool to lend a helping hand. With the right education, ChatGPT will prove a useful resource for both students and teachers moving forward.