Subscribe now

Analysis Technology

Should schools ban ChatGPT or embrace the technology instead?

School districts and universities are banning the ChatGPT AI that writes in a human-like fashion, but some teachers say a better approach may be to incorporate it into the curriculum

By Jeremy Hsu

12 January 2023

Screen with ChatGPT chat with AI or artificial intelligence. Man search for information using artificial intelligence chatbot

ChatGPT is freely available for anyone to use online

Iryna Khabliuk/Alamy

Schools and educational institutions in the US and elsewhere are announcing bans on the recently released AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT out of fear that students could use the technology to complete their assignments. However, bans may be practically impossible given how difficult it is to detect when text is composed by ChatGPT. Is it instead time to rethink how students are taught and evaluated?

“Educators are starting to question what it means to… assess student learning if an AI can write an essay …

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

View introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 14th June 2023.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account

More from New Scientist

Explore the latest news, articles and features

Popular articles

Trending New Scientist articles

1

Chaotically shifting planets could be a sign of advanced aliens

2

Which countries will do well at Eurovision 2023 – according to science

3

Emergence: The mysterious concept that holds the key to consciousness

4

Electromagnetic fields from power lines are messing with honeybees

5

What is the future of AI? Google and the EU have very different ideas

6

We now know how parasitic worms help ward off obesity and diabetes

7

Why the origins of life remain a mystery – and how we will crack it

8

How we could discover quantum gravity without rebuilding space-time

9

The mental tricks you can use in your lifelong pursuit of happiness

10

Mosquito-proof fabric blocks bites without sacrificing comfort