{"id":32852,"date":"2023-09-04T11:16:24","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T18:16:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=32852"},"modified":"2023-09-04T11:16:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T18:16:24","slug":"tool-crutch-or-something-else","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/tool-crutch-or-something-else\/","title":{"rendered":"Tool, Crutch or Something Else?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The use of artificial intelligence offers benefits and opportunities, but it also presents challenges and risks.\u00a0 <\/span>Technology acts as a catalyst that expands the opportunities for humanity to pursue.\u00a0 It is amoral, not good or evil in itself, but can be designed and used for good and evil purposes. Much of its use for good lies in the responsibility of the creators and users of technology.\u00a0 As we see in all forms of technology from apps, AI, to the invention of the printing press, it can be used for good or for evil.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before reading the articles and watching the videos, I hadn\u2019t given much thought to using AI, except for the risks (specifically to one\u2019s Apprenticeship to Jesus from its misuse) of using AI for higher education and the current controversy.\u00a0 My concerns centered around moral and ethical perspectives surrounding my limited understanding of its use.\u00a0 Some of those concerns included:\u00a0 using AI as a \u201ccrutch\u201d for doing the work, manipulating the learning process (removing students from the \u201cwork\u201d or challenge in the learning process),\u00a0 and employing AI as a shortcut for learning.\u00a0 However, as I grow in my understanding of artificial intelligence, I am able to see how AI<\/span> technology can be used for the glory of God and the betterment of my own learning.<\/span><\/p>\n

After watching Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, my own intelligence (Real Intelligence, Human Intelligence or Natural Intelligence . . . what is the intelligence we have?) was open to more of the possibilities for students.\u00a0 Khan modeled how AI will spark positive transformation in education, and noted that students could have an AI tutor and an AI teaching assistant for every teacher. [1]\u00a0 In Khan\u2019s TED Talk, he modeled how AI, Khanmigo, can tutor students in the process of problem-solving by explaining their reasoning and assisting students in the ability to define misconceptions that may exist in their student\u2019s minds.\u00a0 I was fascinated when watching the interaction between the Khanmigo bot and the \u201cstudent\u201d.\u00a0 Throughout my years in elementary education, a greater emphasis placed on skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and reasoning, as well as vulnerability in unearthing possible misconceptions has evolved.\u00a0 From the example provided by Sal Khan, within the use of Khan Academy, I could see several benefits for students.\u00a0 My mind started to reconsider my cautions and consider the possibilities.\u00a0 However, could this be a tool or a crutch for me to use?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In higher education, there has been concern about its use, noting how students have used it as a substitute for the learning process (more like a crutch).\u00a0 There are several concerns or considerations that need to be determined when using AI. While the use of Artificial Intelligence is a useful tool, it is not meant to be a substitute for learning.\u00a0 Michael Webb from JISC, a National Centre for AI in Tertiary Education, recognizes several current concerns and risks associated with using AI.\u00a0 Some of the risks include overdependence, perpetuation of harmful biases, responsibility and accountability of its use, and the potential breach of integrity. [2]\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Overdependence – As society becomes more reliant on AI systems for critical tasks, there\u2019s a risk of overdependence.\u00a0 If these systems fail or are compromised, there can be serious consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bias – AI Systems can inherit biases from the data they are trained on, which can lead to unfair or discriminatory outcomes.\u00a0 The bias can affect the processes of decision-making.<\/span><\/p>\n

Responsibility and Accountability of Use – It can be challenging to determine responsibility and accountability when using AI and things go wrong or the use of AI underperforms as desired. This raises questions about who is accountable for AI decisions and actions (i.e. autonomous vehicles). [3]<\/span><\/p>\n

Artificial Intelligence presents a doubtful advantage to our culture, offering possibilities while at the same time posing significant risks and encountering certain limitations.\u00a0 Additionally, the risks require ethical guidelines, transparency, and fu<\/span>rther understanding of the responsibility and accountability of its use.\u00a0 Understanding the limits helps establish realistic expectations for AI\u2019s potential use.\u00a0 Using AI wisely may help me navigate the complex landscape of technology usage and transformation (not to mention develop my vocabulary and writing abilities \ud83d\ude42). So for you, is it a tool, crutch or something else?<\/span><\/p>\n

While the purposes behind the creation of AI or any given technology may be morally complicated, God is still able to use them for His greater purposes. It is good for me (us) to understand the current concerns around their usage and develop my (our) \u201ctheology of AI usage\u201d under the Lordship of my Maker. . . \u201csee to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ\u201d (<\/span>Colossians 2:8<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1] <\/span>https:\/\/youtu.be\/hJP5GqnTrNo?si=UfBAYH343hxgCYaK<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[2] <\/span>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YUNcrSrm47E<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[3] Ibid<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The use of artificial intelligence offers benefits and opportunities, but it also presents challenges and risks.\u00a0 Technology acts as a catalyst that expands the opportunities for humanity to pursue.\u00a0 It is amoral, not good or evil in itself, but can be designed and used for good and evil purposes. Much of its use for good […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":168,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2310],"tags":[2489,2548],"class_list":["post-32852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctor-of-leadership-3","tag-dlgp02","tag-ai","cohort-dlgp02"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32852"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32852\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32855,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32852\/revisions\/32855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}