Introduction
In November 2022, ChatGPT, an AI tool developed by the US firm OpenAI, was introduced. It features an extensive linguistic database that provides answers to text-based sources submitted by people [1]. The publication of ChatGPT brought AI programs to the forefront and raised questions about the integrity of academia and the potential for students to misuse AI for exams [2; 3; 4; 5]. According to some professors, approximately one-fifth of students began using AI systems for assessment tasks within two months of their introduction [6]. The discussion below outlines the rationale for creating strategies to prevent ChatGPT from compromising academic integrity.
The Role of ChatGPT in Supporting Student Essay Writing
With the advent of artificial intelligence and natural language processing technologies, ChatGPT has emerged as a powerful tool for helping students with their essay writing needs. It is capable of understanding human language and generating coherent, grammatically correct, and contextually appropriate responses [7]. This means that ChatGPT can help students generate ideas, outline an essay, or even provide suggestions for phrasing or vocabulary.
However, while ChatGPT may seem like a promising tool for essay writing, its limitations should be acknowledged. One of the primary concerns is that ChatGPT may not be able to form a cohesive argument or provide valid reasoning to support a thesis statement [8]. As an artificial intelligence system, ChatGPT cannot understand complex concepts or make judgments based on subjective criteria.
Despite these concerns, ChatGPT has demonstrated an ability to construct coherent and well-structured responses. Results from several respected universities suggest that ChatGPT has passed their examinations, indicating that it can accurately and logically understand and respond to complex questions [9]. While it is true that ChatGPT may have limitations when it comes to forming subjective judgments or arguments, it can still be a valuable tool for students aiming to structure their essays. Additionally, as artificial intelligence technology continues to develop, ChatGPT may become even more helpful in providing sophisticated essay-writing assistance.
The Reliability and Limitations of ChatGPT’s Academic Output
At this point, it is essential to stress that while ChatGPT may seem like a promising tool for various tasks, it is not advisable to use it as it produces inaccurate results and has significant constraints. As an AI tool, ChatGPT has limitations that make it unsuitable for certain applications [10]. For example, it may not be able to interpret complex or nuanced language accurately or have access to the most up-to-date information. Additionally, there may be privacy concerns when using an AI-powered tool.
Nevertheless, it is worth noting that trials of ChatGPT in various areas have been successful and have shown remarkable results. For example, ChatGPT has been utilized in the customer service and marketing fields to offer personalized recommendations and enhance the customer experience [10]. It has also been utilized in healthcare to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions. ChatGPT has demonstrated an ability to learn from data and provide accurate and practical recommendations in these contexts.
Despite the successes of ChatGPT in specific contexts, its abilities are still limited. For example, it cannot express an opinion and may struggle to accurately interpret nuanced or subjective language. Additionally, it may only be able to reference events before 2021, as it is based on a model trained on data up to that point [11]. This means that it may not have access to the most up-to-date information. It also cannot access information from databases or other sources, which could sometimes limit its usefulness. Ultimately, it is up to individual users to determine whether ChatGPT is an appropriate tool for their specific needs and to consider the potential risks and limitations of using an AI-powered system.
The Influence of ChatGPT on Student Learning and Skill Development
Still, there is concern that using ChatGPT may hinder learning outcomes. Relying on an AI-powered tool to generate ideas may reduce students’ critical thinking and writing skills [11]. Students can become dependent on the tool and may struggle to produce high-quality work independently. This could lead to lower grades and harm their capacity to learn and develop their skills.
On the other hand, streamlining the writing process through the use of ChatGPT can actually have a positive impact on learning results. Using it, they can save time on the writing process and dedicate themselves more to examining their work and studying more material [12]. This can help students to develop a deeper understanding of the topics, as they have more opportunities to focus on research and critical analysis.
While the latter paragraph makes a valid point, it is essential to note that understanding and writing are intertwined, and writing serves as an avenue to explore what one has contemplated about a topic they have been studying. Relying too heavily on ChatGPT may diminish students’ critical thinking and writing skills. Additionally, using an AI-powered tool to generate ideas may not provide the required level of personal engagement and creativity [12]. Thus, developing strong writing skills is essential for academic success and future career opportunities, and students may not fully develop these capabilities if they use ChatGPT too much.
Conclusion
In summary, the essay has explored the idea that using ChatGPT compromises academic honesty and should be discouraged for several reasons. By relying on ChatGPT, students may engage in academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism. Moreover, relying on ChatGPT could hinder the development of critical thinking and writing skills, which are essential for academic success and future professional prospects.
Limitations of ChatGPT and its potential to produce inaccurate results were also discussed. The tool can hinder students’ creativity and ability to express their thoughts and ideas effectively. Therefore, it is essential to formulate recommendations that outline probable approaches to addressing the issue.
Given the potential risks associated with using ChatGPT, proposing measures and software that can effectively and efficiently detect its use, as well as that of other AI programs, is essential. This could include developing plagiarism detection programs specifically designed to identify works generated by AI-powered tools. It then seems necessary to educate and train students and faculty on the risks associated with using AI in academic work, as well as the importance of academic honesty. By taking proactive measures to avoid using ChatGPT, academic institutions can help ensure the integrity of academic work and promote the development of essential skills among students. Thus, the involved institutions are to develop joint actions within the scope given so that the negative impacts of ChatGPT on the academic dimension can be minimized.
References
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- J. Rudolph, S. Tan, and S. Tan, “ChatGPT: Bullshit Spewer or the End of Traditional Assessments in Higher education?” Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, vol. 6, no. 1. 2023. Web.
- E. M. 1 Dobrescu and E. M. 2 1 P. Dobrescu, “Artificial Intelligence (ai) – the Technology That Shapes the World,” ProQuest, pp. 71–81, 2018. Web.