Feature Interview: Using AI to avoid hard conversations

The problem with artificial intelligence in education comes down to two problems. Somehow, educators need to encourage using AI creatively while discouraging taking lazy shortcuts. This is what Clay Shirky thinks, and he's the vice provost for A.I. and technology in education at New York University. The shortcuts that really concern Shirky aren't just using ChatGPT to write term papers, or cheat on an exam. He sees students skipping the struggle that comes with navigating emotional situations and relationships. Young people lean on ChatGPT for conversation starters and break up texts and writing letters to apologize for cheating with ChatGPT. Shirky sees too may students using AI to skip out on the messy work of becoming an adult.