Generative AI has quickly become an integral aspect of Australian life. What’s more important is that it deeply affects all levels of daily commutes and professional work. From supporting teachers to helping young creatives, it’s a powerful tool. Yet at the same time, the technology brings issues of dependency and ethical use, spotlighting the complicated relationship between users and AI.
At the Australian Capital Territory, Chris uses Generative AI like a virtual assistant to delegate and contract out their software development tasks to AIs. For him, this has simplified his workflow and given him more time to spend on higher priority tasks. Back in Victoria, Steven has found ChatGPT is proving largely ineffective for his note-taking needs in his work supporting people with disabilities. He expresses frustration over the inaccuracies generated by AI in this sensitive field.
Michael from Western Australia demonstrates a far more artistic – and perhaps entertaining – application of Generative AI. He uses it to produce music, claiming that it allows him to make up for his lack of skills when it comes to writing notes. Richard, a mathematician from New South Wales, uses AI for simple programming tasks. He uses it to edit scholarly articles. He’s created customized tutors from the year 12 Victorian curriculum to help supplement his daughter’s learning.
The Educational Landscape
Generative AI has recently made its way into educational environments, where many teachers have used it as a professional development and instructional tool. They are convinced that it enhances the learning experience and makes students more involved and engaged. Poll results from over 3,000 professional and academic staff across 17 Australian universities reveal a mixed sentiment towards the technology. Though many educators acknowledge its potential to be a great tool, there is a growing concern that it is harming students’ critical thinking skills.
Building on the perspectives of students already using Generative AI in their classrooms, the argument over how it is shaping education grows fierce. Some students find it an effective tool for research and assignments, while educators worry that over-reliance may hinder their analytical abilities. The study suggests that excessive dependence on AI tools could diminish critical thinking skills, leading to a generation more reliant on technology than on their cognitive capabilities.
“One important rule I have not seen mentioned in [mainstream media] is that you are much more likely to [get] high quality and correct output if you give the chatbot a long input and seek a short output, rather than give it a short input and seek a long output.” – Anonymous Reader
This balancing act between leveraging technology for convenience and maintaining essential skills is at the heart of the ongoing conversation surrounding Generative AI in education.
Ethical Concerns and Environmental Impact
Generative AI is undoubtedly a tremendous tool, but its quick ascent has introduced major ethical concerns. We know that artists are rightfully upset about their creative work being used without consent to train generative AI models. Back in Victoria, one artist expresses their concern over AI’s destructive effect on traditional art forms. They argue that relying on simple prompts to generate art diminishes the value of creativity developed through practice and perseverance.
We’ve got tens of thousands of notable artists joined with us. Their artists have signed a petition calling for an end to the unauthorized use of their work to train Generative AI models. Needless to say, these artists are concerned that such practices diminish the value of their contributions and threaten their livelihoods.
In addition to these social concerns, there are environmental impacts tied to how Generative AI operates. According to critics, it uses enormous amounts of water and causes massive deforestation. As understanding of these issues deepens, discussions on how to use AI responsibly are more important than ever before.
“It’s terrible and ruining my life. I’m studying animation and every single day I see people putting ‘a simple prompt’ into a bot that burns forests and uses gallons of water.” – Cylan, Vic
This balancing act of creativity, ethics, and environmental sustainability is quickly becoming the hot topic. Now, advocates are pushing for a comprehensive reevaluation of how we deploy Generative AI across sectors.
Personal Experiences with Generative AI
Users found the experience enlightening. High quality personal testimonies from users paint a clear picture of the pros and cons of Generative AI. For example, one reader tells their story of using AI for emotional support after the tragic loss of a family member. Yet despite the rigid adherence to distance, they explain how it has become a surprising font of comfort at an overwhelming and exhausting time.
“It listens to me like nobody else ever could… but I know it cannot love me or provide the human contact that people experiencing emotional isolation crave.” – Anonymous Reader
Another author cries foul that after all those years of creative writing school, Generative AI has ruined everything. They are concerned that their livelihood has been lost at the hands of a quickly developing field of AI-created works.
“Generative AI has devastated me… Overnight, the skills I paid tens of thousands of dollars for became worthless.” – Anonymous Writer
Michael from Western Australia feels most gratified when he’s able to use AI to help compose music. He’s careful to underline that despite AI being a critical coauthor in his creative endeavor, the humanity of his art is still there.
“With AI help I have now released 3 albums in the last few months… Using AI, my unsung heart can be heard and that has given me great joy.” – Michael, WA
These different viewpoints really show the complex and nuanced influence that Generative AI has already started having on people’s lives in every part of Australia.
