My personal relationship with AI is that I don't have one. I'm a never AI person.
Here's a screenshot from my google history from today:
I avoid AI at all costs and find myself judging others for using it. I hate that AI has become unavoidable.
I have three main reasons I am against AI: The climate, theft, and our human spirit.
AI data centers are terrible for our environment and are taking the place of parks and homes. They use millions of gallons of water per day. The article I linked also describes how everyday people are paying higher energy bills, while the wealthy making these AI centers are profiting in a huge way.
Secondly, AI steals from work made by humans, often creators and artists. I believe that this theft is simply unethical. Artists and creatives should be paid for their work. Full stop. This peer-reviewed article explains how AI is theft.
Finally, I believe that using AI takes the soul out of us, especially when we use it for creative pursuits. To be human is to engage in thinking and be present in the world. A machine cannot make something a human can. A machine cannot make something that reflects your personal experience. It cannot make something with heart.
Teaching is a profession that requires your heart and soul. I feel it would be unfair to my students to deny them my heart.
While reading the Ferlazzo article, I found myself literally making a face, especially when I read the phrase "creativity isn't limited to master artists". I found this phrasing to be very problematic when it comes to AI. Creativity has never BEEN limited to master artists. We are creative every day in our own unique ways. We don't need a machine to make stolen art for us. Maybe our art isn't perfect, but isn't that what makes it ours?
I resonated much more with the Gallant and Rettinger reading. I particularly enjoyed the quote, "Every time educators help a student learn authentically, that student will contribute to the beliefs of peers and potentially influence their behavior toward integrity." (23) I saw a connection here with what we talked about re: Pierson and the importance of building relationships with students. My goal as teacher is to build within students an appreciation for the process of learning, not just the end result. In my opinion, using AI takes the joy and humanity out of that process.
I completely hear what you're saying! I'm wondering if there is a happy medium with AI in the classroom. I'll be honest, I do use it to make little activities for my students and it has helped a lot with teacher burnout. I understand the frustration with people using AI for everything and how it takes away human emotion. I'm hoping we can get to a place in society where AI is used the RIGHT way!
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ReplyDeleteI put "-ai" in my searches and it doesn't give the ai overview
Deletein case you wanna try that out ヽ(•‿•)ノ
DeleteThank you, Karen!!! I will totally try that :)
DeleteDaniel, I love your inclusion of AI as a destruction of the human spirit. I haven't heard that take before and it names something that I have been feeling. I completely understand your judgment of others using AI themselves because even though I have used it in the past, I now harbor that judgment as well, probably because I feel a sense of shame about it and project. Thanks for your resources!
ReplyDeleteI personally feel like I have a very mixed opinion on AI but I definitely see and agree with what you're saying-- your points on AI being the theft of human spirit and creativity especially. I think that solely by the way that AI is programmed, it can ~create~ (generative AI, creating responses, etc) but it can't (big C) Create, it doesn't have connections, grounding and feelings that act as its foundation for its view on the world like people do. Not only does AI seem a little inevitable but I can only imagine how frustrating you must feel to be in an almost constant professional conversation about the use of AI with any professional party that wants to talk to you about it (TFA, RIC, maybe also your school).
ReplyDeleteHi Daniel! I wrote about childhood media for my blog post but yours was calling me because I also felt strongly to the readings. I also found myself making a face during the Ferlazzo article. While I also have big feelings about the environmental impacts, the last example from that article brought me to a similar conclusion about how using AI for art does not sit right with me. What makes art special to me is the human spirit. Teaching truly is a career for the heart, soul, and human connection. In this class, I am trying to be more open-minded about AI to engage with news idea. I have always understood the "whys" behind why people see it as helpful, but I think we equally have to consider "why nots".
ReplyDeleteI have come to the conclusion (so far) that I can see its benefits for decreasing teacher workload that is seemingly always increasing (without the pay!), but I do not see myself using it in my own classroom in this way.
I admire your passion for humanness, and see the threat that AI poses! Thank you for including the environmental impacts of AI, super useful article! Proud of you!
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