Some 6 in 10 Canadian students use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to do their schoolwork, according to a recent KPMG study. If new technologies help the workers of tomorrow, they also give them the impression of learning less and… of cheating.
Posted at 1:36 a.m.
Updated at 2:00 p.m.
AI is implanting
Students use AI to generate ideas (46%), conduct research (41%), review work (38%), summarize information (36%), write (32%), or take exams (24%). “We see a lot of people using AI to draft work that they will then revise, to summarize long documents or to extract the essential points from an email chain,” explains David Marcotte, leader at Quebec of the data and artificial intelligence practice at KPMG.
Cheating or not?
AI is gaining popularity, but it is not fully accepted. According to the KPMG study, 65% of students feel like they are cheating when they use it. Mr. Marcotte believes that it would be in their interest to accept and appoint her. “Schools must modernize their approach and set clear rules to determine in which contexts AI can be used. Transparency is super important. That said, workers are already using these technologies to speed up their work, so why do students think they’re cheating? »
Yes, but…
Most students say generative AI improves the quality of their work. “It allows an acceleration of the consumption of important knowledge. It’s a super powerful tool for students and the world of work,” he explains.
However, more than two-thirds of students admit to learning less and retaining less knowledge. “When we read content in which we immerse ourselves, we are better able to summarize it and identify the important points, because all our attention is devoted to them. »
The objective, according to David Marcotte, is to use AI by improving its critical thinking. “We must learn to welcome this knowledge, to use our judgment, to analyze it and to consult different sources of information to have a more complete understanding than if we consumed knowledge in a traditional way. »
Lazy brains?
If AI does a huge part of the work, it is possible that the retention capacity of the brain will decrease. “In anything, you have to find a balance so as not to depend solely on technology,” says Mr. Marcotte. With young people, I prioritize education on how to use it, what are the risks, the benefits and how to maintain mental balance. »
He also draws a parallel with the advent of the calculator in the lives of students. “Have we become worse at mental arithmetic? Or have we instead accelerated our progress with these tools? »
David Marcotte believes that AI not only speeds up work, but also allows you to have access to technological skills and become more versatile. He also believes that new jobs and skills will emerge. “It will be a period of adaptation for managers, like when the internet arrived in our lives. »
