Chat GPT and other chatbots are already becoming a big part of the present. It has raised a lot of thoughts especially in higher education institutions, both for and against.

The Guardian reported at the beginning of January that public schools in New York and Australian universities banned the use of Chat GPT because it was feared that students would use it to cheat.

In all of New York’s public schools it is impossible now to use chatbot on school devices and networks. Schools are also trying to implement plagiarism detection software or require students to submit their work through a specific platform to ensure authenticity.

“While the tool may be able to provide quick and easy answers to questions, it does not build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for academic and lifelong success,” Jenna Lyle, a department spokesperson said to BBC.

In Finland artificial intelligence is not seen as a mere threat.

Various educational institutions state that it is necessary to take into account what kind of world today’s teenagers will live in. In ten years, artificial intelligence will probably appear to some extent in everyday life.

“There is no reason to deny anything that is needed soon,” says Vilma Luoma-aho, Professor of Corporate Communication at University of Jyväskylä.

Professor Vilma Luoma-aho doesn`t think it’s a very durable solution to ban the use of Chat GPT.

The school’s customs and methods have taken shape after the approval of the artificial intelligence service but Luoma-aho mentions that there is still a lot of work to be done in this area.

“As artificial intelligence develops, we also have to make changes”.

Luoma-aho understands that not everyone is so positive about chatbots because there is also a lot of misinformation. However in Jyväskylä they are trying to guide the students to the correct use of technology.

“Students need to understand that Chat GPT is a tool and not a replacement for critical thinking and research skills”.

Business student Elena Bundy, USA, says that she is particularly interested in using Chat GPT in the sense that it can tell certain formulas or other interesting factual information.

“I don’t use it in my studies because I don’t think it’s that useful in my field. I want to learn things still myself.” 

Generally educational institutions are not so concerned about the ease of studying brought by the internet and programs. Instead, the cause of concern is their effect on study motivation.