One is not entitled ... ever.

Credit: Getty Images

Let's think about the above image. Did Getty create that or some artist? I hope some artist, who should be named, as the graphic's really good and relates to the blurb concerning AI and the art of the easy way out.

With a child in college and a spouse who’s a professor, I have front-row access to the unfolding debacle that is “higher education in the age of AI.”

These days, students routinely submit even “personal reflection” papers that are AI generated. (And routinely appear surprised when caught.)

Read a paper longer than 10 pages? Not likely—even at elite schools. Toss that sucker into an AI tool and read a quick summary instead. It’s more efficient!

Another TA claimed that “it’s insane how pervasive AI slop is in 75% of the turned-in work,” while another student complained about being a course assistant where “students would have a 75-word paragraph due every week and it was all AI generated.”

One doesn’t have to read far in these kinds of threads to find plenty of students who feel aggrieved because they were accused of AI use—but hadn’t done it. Given how poor most AI detection tools are, this is plenty plausible; and if AI detectors aren’t used, accusations often come down to a hunch.

In closing ...

AI can be an amazing tool that can assist with coding, web searches, data mining, and textual summation—but I’m old enough to wonder just what the heck you’re doing at college if you don’t want to process arguments on your own (i.e., think and read critically) or even to write your own “personal reflections” (i.e., organize and express your deepest thoughts, memories, and feelings). Outsource these tasks often enough and you will fail to develop them.

Time for a life lesson! Credit: Instagram

Getting good at something is hard. Get over it and just do it as one is not entitled ... ever.