I never understood why so many of the older adults in my life were constantly confused—sometimes scared—about how technologically advanced our society has become. These rampant and affluent changes influence every component of our day-to-day lives: Occupationally, socially, culturally, psychologically, and cognitively. Though people are no strangers to generative talking systems like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri, the rise of artificial intelligence is one of the biggest technological breakthroughs of history. What was once a chatbot that could only generate a response when the questions asked aligned with the pre-written coded script has now drastically evolved to mimic human conversation and connection.
As a first-time college student in my mid twenties, artificial intelligence was not around when I was in high school from 2015-2019; The closest thing we had was spell check and Grammarly. I was shocked when I sat down for my first classes at Lasell and heard the professors talk about their AI policies.
Truthfully, I was dumbfounded when I realized that I was the only student without a computer and an iPad. All I had at my disposal was a Five-Star Personal College Ruled Notebook and a variety of pens and pencils. My experiences have made me wonder: Is AI a friend that helps students, or a foe that threatens critical thinking? What are its benefits, and what are its risks?
ChatGPT can encourage independent learning as opposed to simply copying work from other students or websites. When used ethically and wisely, students can receive help drafting essays by asking it to identify major points to research and discuss. Therefore, this fosters engagement, as students have a desire to learn and deeply comprehend the material.
ChatGPT will not leave the workplace anytime in the near future. In fact, a lot of companies have expressed their plan to increase their investments in AI over the next three years.
Students should take caution when using artificial intelligence for schooling or academic matters. If students begin to rely on ChatGPT more than they do on their textbook or notes, it can seriously infringe upon the development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills, skills that are essential for robust cognitive development. ChatGPT has the potential to be a resource that is revolutionary to the way students learn by supporting comprehension and understanding, increasing productivity, and preparing them for the use of AI in their future workplace. So, I challenge you to decide: Is ChatGPT your friend, or is it your foe?
–April 7, 2026–
