As artificial intelligence becomes more common in daily life, the PNW community is split over whether it is a blessing or a curse.
“I have a lot of AI projects I encourage students to work on,” said Lizhe Tan, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
AI – which allows computers to model or improve on the capabilities of the human mind – is found in many products, from personal digital assistants like Apple’s Siri, to the self-driving functions of Tesla automobiles.
Tan is a fan of the technology.
“We use a lot of AI techniques because of how computing power has increased in recent years, making AI more popular in a lot of our computer engineering classes,” he said. “I teach digital signal processing, and AI will be associated with the students’ group projects to reflect on the current trend.
“We use AI in the Cyber Security class to help detect faults,” said Tan. “I think that AI can perform better than human beings.”
Moshanae Bryant thinks it might perform as well as human beings.
A junior majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management, she uses AI tools to help her with assignments.
“Long papers used to be a struggle for me,” said Bryant. “[Now] I just ask AI if I need help starting … or finishing my papers. It has helped me reach word [count] requirements and gives me more information than I could think of.”
She is not concerned that AI poses any threat to her education or future.
“AI can’t walk across the stage for me and get the job that I am going to school for, so if students are using it as an easy way out, it will show,” said Bryant.
Quinn Carter, a PNW sophomore majoring in English Writing has a different perspective.
“I do not use AI for schoolwork, other than the digital media class that requires us to use it … to see how they work and how to use them correctly,” said Carter. “I believe that AI does not always give factual information or the information that you want. An AI can ‘hallucinate’ and give you information that isn’t true or isn’t real or factual.”
Still, she believes AI has a place.
“I think AI can be used as a helpful tool as long as the rules are laid out on how you can use it without abusing its power,” Carter said.”
