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A Different Kind of Student Stress
Lori Bender
Artificial Intelligence Is Already Changing the College and Career Experience!
“Hey, Siri. Where’s the best place to get lunch in San Antonio?”
It wasn’t long ago that the idea of asking a computer where to grab a bite seemed like a fantasy. And yet here we are, decades into using computers and software to do so many things: search for vacation deals, teach us how to change a tire, and schedule grocery deliveries.
Now Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking the world by storm — and higher education is standing in the pouring rain. In fact, AI is changing everything we do so rapidly that it’s difficult to know how best to teach students how to use it effectively and ethically.
First let’s define what AI is. Artificial Intelligence comes from the world of computer science and is the use of machines to perform tasks that require human intelligence. A computer, for example, can be trained to learn the English language so well that it can suggest correct usage and spelling of words after you have typed. If you’ve ever used autocorrect or a grammar check program, you have used AI.
But AI isn’t just confined to proofreading suggestions or customer service “chats”; it is dramatically shaping how college students, faculty, and administrators conduct their roles. Students are using it to write and research; faculty use it to build content, assignments, and tests (and even grade!); and administrators use it to analyze and summarize data on retention and graduation.
The more students know what AI can do and how it will shape not only their college education but also their future careers, the better prepared they will be to harness its power.
To test out its capabilities, I asked ChatGPT, an AI chatbot: “What topics would one cover when writing an article about AI and college students?” It responded with 10 themes and brief descriptions of each. Some of the themes were beyond the scope of the article I wanted to write, so I posed a follow-up question: “Which of these [10 themes ChatGPT offered] are the most important for college students to know?” (AI chatbots can refine their responses as you “teach” them what you want them to do for you.)
The following is a heavily edited version of the output (I am still not ready for AI to do all the writing for me!) that provides an overview of how college students can harness the power of AI while also considering the ethics of its use.
AI can help you learn and study. AI education tools such as virtual tutors and chatbots like ChatGPT can provide information on just about any topic. You may already be familiar with AI tools like Grammarly, which helps improve writing; Duolingo, which teaches languages in a gamelike format; and Quizlet, a program for creating flashcards and quizzes. Many of these programs now have embedded AI tutors to help you make better use of the tools and serve as a coach or teacher in your learning process.
AI can provide health support. You can use AI to develop a workout routine or diet plan based on your unique needs and characteristics. You can also use AI for coaching and guidance during the beginning stages as it can help you narrow down what kinds of support you may need. Tools such as Wysa, Moodnotes, and Moodkit let you monitor your thoughts and provide activities or suggested reflection questions for improving your mental health.
AI can make job-seeking tasks easier. AI is already changing how people look for jobs. Resumes and cover letters are being scanned by AI. Some potential employers ask applicants to submit a video of them answering interview questions, which are then reviewed and sorted by AI tools. Resume Genius, Rezi, and Kickresume help you write or revise your resume based on what the job description is looking for. There are AI tools for cover letters as well. Don’t forget to edit and proofread before submitting AI-supported materials!
AI can complicate the idea of academic integrity. If your institution or college professors do not communicate their expectations regarding the use of AI to complete part or all of an assignment, you should assume its use is not allowed. Some professors are inviting students to use AI on mundane tasks such as generating ideas for a research topic, but most at this point are creating policies that prohibit the use of AI if it circumvents key learning objectives. Your best bet is to ask what is acceptable and follow the policy.
The college experience, for sure, will be shaped significantly by AI, but careers may be where AI will have the biggest impact. No matter how many years you have before you graduate, you can start thinking now about how it will affect the workplaces of the future.
Landing a job may be done primarily through AI. Job applicants already have their resumes and introductory videos scanned by AI. There may be a time soon that a new employee has little contact with humans until they accept a job! Understanding how AI works to eliminate and advance applications will be crucial to your making it past the first stage in the job application process.
Entry-level work may be drastically changed. AI is replacing basic tasks that were once the domain of entry-level positions. If you are going into accounting, public relations and marketing, nursing, or computer science (just to name a few), you may be doing very different tasks as a new employee, and it will be important for you to understand how AI is being used and how best to manage it.
Ethical use must be addressed. It has been documented that AI tools are often biased. This is because AI learns on human-generated content, and humans are biased. Ask it for photo examples of a parent helping their child to cook, and you may find that most of the photos show a female parent. Algorithms, which are used to feed us “personalized” content, can be influenced by stereotypes. Some AI tools will “hallucinate” sources that do not exist, making up entire article citations out of thin air. There are also ethical and privacy concerns when feeding AI personal or sensitive information.
Artificial Intelligence is a powerful way to improve learning, working, and living, but it should be used intentionally, mindfully, and ethically. At the very least, it’s important to understand the role it’s already playing and how it will shape your college and work experience.
