I asked my students similar questions via a survey (the questions all came from ChatGPT and Claude) and like you I was a bit surprised. I think it's because I (like lots of educators) have immersed ourselves in this A.I. world, and I certainly see it as revolutionary and therefore feel I need to provide my students with skills I see them as needing. But my students don't see it this way. Only 50% of my students (grad students n = 24) had used a generative AI tool like ChatGPT. Only 1 student said they used GenAI very often, most Rarely or Never. 2/3 of the students were only slightly or not familiar at all with the concept of generative AI and its potential applications. When asked if professors should allow the use of generative AI for assignments and papers, almost 80% were unsure, or responded probably not or definitely not.
I tried ChatGPT and several other tools to see what they would provide me as a writer. They were useful in conducting broad Google searches, but fell down on the generative side of things. The writing they produced was definitely meh. As an editor, I would have thrown most of it back for a rewrite.
What people don’t realize is that, though the new front ends are attractive, and the interaction is interesting, the underlying AI is more or less the same as it has been for a while. It will get a lot better, maybe soon, but it’s not there yet.
And I liked the response of the student who said he was there to learn, not have the AI do the thinking for him. I think you are right to say students may have a better view of current AI than many who have been sucked in by all the hype would have us believe.
I asked my students similar questions via a survey (the questions all came from ChatGPT and Claude) and like you I was a bit surprised. I think it's because I (like lots of educators) have immersed ourselves in this A.I. world, and I certainly see it as revolutionary and therefore feel I need to provide my students with skills I see them as needing. But my students don't see it this way. Only 50% of my students (grad students n = 24) had used a generative AI tool like ChatGPT. Only 1 student said they used GenAI very often, most Rarely or Never. 2/3 of the students were only slightly or not familiar at all with the concept of generative AI and its potential applications. When asked if professors should allow the use of generative AI for assignments and papers, almost 80% were unsure, or responded probably not or definitely not.
Really interesting -- and underlines even more that we should be engaging with our students!
I tried ChatGPT and several other tools to see what they would provide me as a writer. They were useful in conducting broad Google searches, but fell down on the generative side of things. The writing they produced was definitely meh. As an editor, I would have thrown most of it back for a rewrite.
What people don’t realize is that, though the new front ends are attractive, and the interaction is interesting, the underlying AI is more or less the same as it has been for a while. It will get a lot better, maybe soon, but it’s not there yet.
And I liked the response of the student who said he was there to learn, not have the AI do the thinking for him. I think you are right to say students may have a better view of current AI than many who have been sucked in by all the hype would have us believe.
It's been discussed, but just need to find the time to design the study and get the IRB approved -- much needed though