Whatever AI Looks Like, It's Not | Defector

It is nightmarish to me to read reports of how reliant on ChatGPT students have become, even outsourcing to the machines the ideally very personal assignment "briefly introduce yourself and say what you're hoping to get out of this class." It is depressing to me to read defenses of those students, particularly this one that compares an AI-written essay to using a washing machine in that it reduces the time required for the labor. This makes sense only if the purpose of a student writing an essay is "to have written an essay," which it is not. The teacher did not assign it as busywork. The purpose of an essay is to learn and practice communication skills, critical thinking, organization of one's own thoughts. These are useful skills to develop, even (especially!) if you do not go into a writing career.