In the last 10 years Artificial Intelligence (AI) has developed rapidly and according to Time magazine they don’t think it is likely to slow down at any point. 

Curry’s, a tech retailer, has made a new study to look at how AI is impacting current and recent students’ approach to studying. 

The survey included nearly 1,000 UK students and recent graduates, it revealed that the majority found AI to be beneficial to their studies, with one in four admitting to using the technology to complete a university assignment. 

The top uses for AI were discovered to be researching, summarising content, and writing. Although 1 in 2 believe that students who do use AI are lazy and every fourth student feel that using AI is cheating. In fact, four in ten respondents said they have chosen to avoid using AI during university. 

Over half the students asked said they use apps like ChatGPT or Perplexity to help with researching saving time they would otherwise spend browsing the internet or visiting the library to gather information. 

According to Thomson Reuters, they believe that the amount of time saved by adopting AI technology could be as much as four hours a week by next year and 12 hours a week in five years. However, there are some professionals from PHD Academy who believe AI is a false promise that is unethical and superficial. They say if you want detailed research and to learn more you need to put the effort in, there is no shortcut to learning. 

“Universities today are also adapting to AI becoming a part of everyday life, with data showing that in the past five years, the number of enrolments for AI courses has tripled at UK universities” says Brave Bison 

At the same time, many universities have introduced policies regarding the use of AI.  

The UEA Generative AI policy says, “Computers and AI can be useful in many contexts, but they can produce incomplete, inaccurate, misleading and/or biased information”. It promotes students to use AI for research and learn how to use it as it is likely to become part of their job when graduating. But AI cannot be used to write any summative/formal work. 

Misusing AI to plagiarise is one of the biggest concerns since the technology emerged, according to Inspera. 

For those who have used the technology to cheat, the consequences are clear. 14% of all students in the survey reported knowing a fellow student who was penalised during their studies. Repercussions have included capping marks at a pass for a module, being asked to resubmit an assignment and, in some cases, students have failed the module, been required to repeat the entire year, or even faced expulsion. 

AI does have its benefits. Over half the students believe that AI has improved their chances of succeeding in their chosen career, and three-quarters think that AI skills are essential for the future. 

Overall, students view AI positively, with more than one in five feeling excited when they think about an AI-driven future. Another fifth feels curious and almost 20% are optimistic. 

While most students have positive feelings towards AI’s future, one in ten feel worried and anxious, slightly fewer 9% are sceptical, and 2% feel overwhelmed and angry.  

There may be some dislike, but it is unavoidable to see AI is part of the future. The World Economic Forum has predicted that, though 85 million jobs may be set to be replaced, 97 million new jobs are also likely to be created by the ‘AI Revolution’, according to AIPRM. 

Image Credit: WikimediaCommons