Why Students Should Rethink Using ChatGPT

When I started high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, artificial intelligence felt like something from science fiction. By the time I graduated, a new tool called ChatGPT was the talk of the town, helping my classmates speed through their assignments. I mostly ignored it then, but now as a college sophomore, its presence is unavoidable.

The New Normal on Campus

The phrase “Just ask Chat” has quickly replaced “Just Google it.” However, there's a key difference. Googling a subject provides a list of sources that you have to evaluate for credibility. In contrast, its new AI counterpart consolidates information into a single block of text, which has a notorious reputation for inaccuracy. While it’s easy to dismiss these mistakes as growing pains for a new technology, it's a fact that OpenAI's systems still struggle with hallucinations.

The Hidden Cost to Your Brain

Some might see minor factual errors as a small price for the convenience ChatGPT offers. But a recent MIT study highlights a much larger cost. The research discovered that students who used ChatGPT to write essays showed significantly less cognitive engagement in their neural pathways compared to those who used search engines or no assistance at all. While ChatGPT is undoubtedly a powerful tool, we must be cautious not to let it become a crutch. As college students investing thousands of dollars in our education, we need to ask ourselves why we're here and actively take control of our own learning.

The Environmental Price of AI Convenience

This isn't just about academic integrity; the issue runs much deeper. AI might seem to exist in the cloud, but its processing power resides in massive data centers. These facilities run constantly, generating immense heat and requiring vast amounts of water for cooling. Projections show AI's water consumption could reach a staggering 6.6 billion cubic meters by 2027. The carbon footprint is equally alarming. The creation of GPT-3 alone generated a carbon dioxide equivalent to driving 123 cars for an entire year, and this figure will only grow with increased consumer use.

Our planet is already facing a critical moment with rising demands for water and energy as we race to curb carbon emissions. We shouldn't add more strain to this system simply to perform tasks humans are perfectly capable of doing.

A Call to Reclaim Our Human Gifts

Gen Z has earned a reputation for driving social change, especially concerning the climate crisis. We can't afford to ignore this now. Beyond that, we are human. Thinking, imagining, writing, and creating art are fundamental parts of our nature. Why are we so willing to outsource these unique gifts to a machine that can only produce sterile imitations of human creativity?

How to Break Up With Your AI Assistant

This semester, I challenge you to try logging off, even for a week. See what happens when you write your notes by hand, a practice shown to improve content recall and attentiveness. If you're stuck on an assignment, visit the CU Writing Center. Take a break and doodle outside. Write a poem on your phone and share it with friends, or keep it for yourself. It’s a beautiful day to use your own brain.