Years ago, we were sure we would have flying cars. Instead, we have Artificial Intelligence, a helpful, yet dangerous tool that can enhance our lives but poses ethical dilemmas and challenges we never anticipated. In this society, AI has become an integral part of our lives, influencing various aspects of our school, work, and home lives. 

Let’s talk about the advantages of AI. One of its primary advantages would be the ability to process and analyze a vast amount of data quickly and accurately. AI-powered systems can automate routine tasks like scheduling appointments, setting alarms, and specific reminders. It can assist you with tasks you may not know about, including homework questions, math equations, projects, or popular suggestions. Examples of popular suggestions include:

Best outfits to wear during the fall season.

Popular shoes people are purchasing.

What do people like the most about school?

AI can simplify tedious tasks in certain occupations, allowing for more focus on other aspects or shortening the time needed for preparation. Common occupations include:

Administrative – Virtual Assistance.

Finance Accounting – specifically fraud detection

Education and Training – specifically tutoring, and personalized learning.

Like most technology, Artificial Intelligence can simplify our lives in several ways; 

however, there are disadvantages, as well. One potential con of AI is the readily available opportunity to facilitate plagiarism, a concern that educators are aware of and take action on.  This can result in job loss and school consequences. For example, a 17-year-old boy was wrongfully accused by his school district at Hingham High School in Massachusetts of cheating on a written assignment. This resulted in his parents suing the teacher. Although this boy had been wrongfully accused, this is a prime example of what AI could lead to. In North Carolina, a popular university UNC has a very specific cheating policy regarding Artificial Intelligence. According to writingcenter.unc.edu, “Because it is considered a form of academic cheating and constitutes a serious violation of the University’s Honor Code, the usual punishment for a student found guilty of plagiarizing is suspension for one semester and an “F” in the course.” Without a doubt, the tolerance for plagiarism diminishes significantly upon entering any sort of higher education including colleges or full-time jobs. 

In Wake County, plagiarism is “using passages, materials, words, ideas, and thoughts of someone or something else and representing them as one’s original work without properly crediting the source. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to copying text, images, charts, or other materials from digital or print sources without proper citation;” https://www.wcpss.net/Page/25029#:~:text=Cheating%20includes%2C%20but%20is%20not,completing%20any%20other%20assigned%20academic This can result into going on your permanent record depending on the number of times you have committed plagiarism. Before your permanent record, there are certain offense regulations. 

1st Offense: Student/teacher conference, parental notification, documentation of the incident, advisers of extra-curricular activities will be notified, no participation in SGA for 2 semesters, Honor Society notified if a member and student can redo the assignment (highest grade earned can be 60%). 

2nd Offense: documentation of the incident, advisers of extra-curricular activities will be notified, no participation in SGA for 2 semesters, and Honor Society notified if a member and student can redo the assignment (highest grade earned can be 50%). Students may be assigned administrative disciplinary consequences.

3rd Offense and after Student/teacher conference, parental notification, documentation of the incident, advisers of extra-curricular activities will be notified, no participation in SGA for 2 semesters, and the Honor Society will be notified if a member and student cannot redo the assignment (a ZERO is given). Students may be assigned administrative disciplinary consequences. For example, ISS, OSS, lunch detention, or disciplinary calls. 

(https://www.wcpss.net/Page/25029#:~:text=Cheating%20includes%2C%20but%20is%20not,completing%20any%20other%20assigned%20academic)

As AI systems become more capable of completing human-like tasks, there is a risk that schools and certain occupations can become obsolete. Another drawback is that AI typically relies on your personal information and makes people vulnerable to breaches. AI-generated sources can all see facial recognition, security information, and passwords, which can also create more issues regarding your safety. It also takes away from many creative minds. As a result of this, some artists have stopped sharing their artwork online because of this. “Many say they are leaving to prevent the app’s parent company Meta from using their art to train AI models.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/06/06/instagram-meta-ai-training-cara/

In conclusion, Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has many pros and cons that have affected people. AI can enhance efficiency, automate repetitive tasks, and provide insights that were previously unimaginable to achieve. On the other hand, there are also cons to consider. AI can lead to job loss and displacement, privacy issues, and employee concerns. While AI offers significant benefits and opportunities, it is essential to address the associated challenges thoroughly. Balancing innovation with ethical considerations and societal impacts will be crucial in harnessing the full potential of AI correctly and responsibly.