86% of students use AI in higher education.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an “intense discussion” in higher education, with an August 2024 survey citing 86% of students said they use AI in their studies.
The issues beyond academic integrity that arise from this discussion are issues of quality of response and quality of learning.
Nicholas Tampio, a political science professor at Fordham University, said to The Conversation, “Artificial intelligence is a tool that defeats a purpose of a college education – to learn how to think, and write, for oneself.”
To demonstrate the difference between AI and a human, below there will be several prompts for different potential student purposes with two answers. The first answer will always be a human response from a senior journalism student who writes for the Chimes, and the second will always be ChatGPT.
Following the two responses, there will be a brief comparative discussion. Each prompt was answered by the student before it was provided to ChatGPT.
For personal writing: In 100 words or less, reflect on how this Quantitative Reasoning course will help you in your future career (for ChatGPT, basic information about the course and the future career will be inputted along with the prompt).
Student:
This quantitative reasoning course can have a strong impact on my career as a journalist. It is my dream to work as an investigative reporter, which requires a strong understanding of raw data and facts. I will do a significant amount of comparison and interpretation, and my job as a journalist is to make the data more approachable for a reader. I will work essentially as an interpreter of data for an audience, and understanding how numbers interact and compare is crucial to providing the context the raw data requires.
AI:
A Quantitative Reasoning course will strengthen my ability to analyze data, interpret statistics, and fact-check numerical claims—essential skills for accurate journalism. Understanding percentages, trends, and financial reports will help me report on topics like economics, politics, and public policy with clarity and credibility. Additionally, it enhances logical thinking and problem-solving, both crucial for investigative reporting. In a world driven by data, strong math skills ensure I can present information accurately and avoid misinformation. This course will ultimately make me a more precise, reliable, and analytical journalist.
Discussion:
The response by ChatGPT was very broad and discussed topics that were not included in the course. In order to provide the necessary context in the prompt for the AI, a student would need to do more work than the actual assignment.
With personal writing, AI cannot provide a suitable response without sufficient information on the person and the topic.
For creative thinking: Write and discuss a unique simile that explains the emotions of cleaning the kitchen.
Student:
Cleaning the kitchen is like playing a murder mystery game. While it can be frustrating to get going and oftentimes you might not know where to start, once you do start somewhere and begin to understand how you will approach the task, it can be methodical and rewarding.
ChatGPT:
Cleaning the kitchen is like erasing a chalkboard covered in a child’s wild doodles—at first, it feels overwhelming, a chaotic mess of spills, crumbs, and sticky spots. But as you wipe, scrub, and rinse, there’s a growing sense of satisfaction, like revealing a fresh, blank slate ready for new creations. The last swipe of the towel is like the final swoosh of the eraser—peaceful, satisfying, and full of quiet accomplishment.
Discussion:
ChatGPT’s answer to this prompt was lazy and unimaginative. It equated cleaning… to cleaning. AI struggles with creativity.
For practical student writing: Write an email to a professor asking for an extension because you are sick, and telling them you will miss class.
Student:
Professor Professorson,
I hope this email finds you well.
I am sorry, but I am unable to come to class tomorrow as I am feeling quite unwell. I will also be unable to complete the assignment due tomorrow night, for the same reason.
What will I miss from class tomorrow, and what will I need to make up? I already checked the Canvas and looked at the lecture; however, I wanted to ensure there wasn’t anything else I would be absent for that is not on the Canvas.
Additionally, may I have a one-day extension to complete the assignment? I would like to focus on resting so I can better apply more focus to my studies when I am better.
Please let me know what I must do in my absence.
Thank you,
Student McStudentson
ChatGPT:
Dear [Professor’s Last Name],
I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to reach out to let you know that I am feeling unwell and, unfortunately, will have to miss class on [date]. Due to my illness, I am also struggling to complete [assignment name] by the deadline and wanted to ask if it would be possible to receive an extension.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Please let me know if you need any documentation or if there are alternative arrangements I should consider.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,
[Your Name]
Discussion:
AI’s response to this prompt was practical and effective. AI is great at formulaic low-stakes writing, although the time it took to input the prompt to ChatGPT was similar to the amount of time it took to write the student response to the prompt.
AI, and specifically ChatGPT, can be a useful tool for students’ more miniature tasks that are not for credit. In situations where creativity, context and critical thinking are required, AI is an insufficient substitute for a university-level student.
