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Chase Aiken

Writing 2

Professor Evans

25 February 2024

WP2: Email to a Friend

Subject: Reflecting on AI Integration in Academics: Insights from a Party I Attended

Hi Aaron,

I trust this message finds you well. Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a captivating

gathering where we explored the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within academic

realms. The discussions were thought-provoking and filled with insights I am eager to share.

Let me paint a picture of the evening for you. As I stepped into the venue, the energy was

palpable. Conversations buzzed around the room, creating an atmosphere of anticipation for the

discussions. The conference room I entered at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas was large and

extraordinary; there were many people engaged in conversation. I was nervous walking around,

but eventually, I realized many people like me were doing the same. Instead of finding one group

to stay with the entire night, I walked around and engaged with as many people as possible.

Imagine this: in one corner, Michele Salvagno and Matthew Hutson were deeply

engrossed in a lively debate about the practical applications of AI tools like ChatGPT in

academic writing. Michele, known for her meticulous attention to detail, emphasized the

importance of establishing clear guidelines for citing AI-generated content. Her concern

stemmed from a desire to maintain academic integrity and uphold attribution standards

(Salvagno et al., 2023).

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On the other hand, Matthew was enthusiastic about AI's potential to assist students in

their writing endeavors. He shared a hypothetical scenario where a struggling student utilizes an

AI writing assistant to articulate their ideas, improving academic performance effectively

(Hutson, 2022). This exchange illuminated the complexities surrounding AI integration in

academic writing, prompting the group to delve deeper into the nuances of plagiarism,

authenticity, and intellectual property rights.

Meanwhile, across the room, Selin Akgun and Carlo Perrotta engaged in a

thought-provoking conversation about the ethical implications of AI in education. Selin raised

concerns about the potential biases inherent in AI-driven systems, particularly in grading and

student evaluation (Akgun & Greenhow, 2021). She presented a hypothetical scenario where an

AI grading system inadvertently perpetuates discrimination against specific student

demographics, sparking a discussion about the importance of fairness and equity in educational

practices.

Carlo echoed Selin's sentiments, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to address

ethical concerns before widespread AI adoption in educational settings (Perrotta, 2019). He

shared a counter-scenario where AI-powered personalized learning platforms promote inclusivity

and bridge educational gaps, highlighting the potential of AI to enhance educational outcomes

when implemented thoughtfully and ethically.

As the evening progressed, new clusters of conversation emerged. Lijia Chen and Andy

Ngyuen collaborated to explore the empirical evidence supporting AI integration in academia.

Lijia, drawing from her expertise in qualitative research, presented compelling data showcasing

AI's transformative potential (Chen et al., 2020).

With his analytical acumen, Andy emphasized the critical need for establishing robust

ethical frameworks to guide AI implementation. He discussed hypothetical scenarios where

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AI-powered tutoring systems significantly improve student outcomes but raise concerns about

data privacy and algorithmic biases. This underscores the importance of evidence-based

decision-making and ethical considerations in navigating the complexities of AI integration in

academia (Nguyen et al., 2022).

Amidst the intellectual enthusiasm, Alam Ashraf captivated the group with his visionary

insights into AI's transformative role in education (Ashraf, 2020). His innovative ideas sparked a

collective imagination, igniting discussions about the future landscape of academia and AI's

possibilities for revolutionizing educational paradigms.

Reflecting on these diverse conversations, it's evident that AI integration in academia is a

multifaceted endeavor brimming with both promise and complexity. The fact that AI can do so

much in academia, such as help students and teachers with daily tasks and the bigger picture,

encapsulates the promise. At the same time, it is also a very complex subject due to the moral

aspects of using AI, such as whose work is actually whose. The discussions traversed

hypothetical scenarios, ethical quandaries, and empirical evidence, offering a holistic perspective

on the opportunities and challenges ahead.

As someone deeply engaged in academia, understanding AI and its implications is

essential for staying at the forefront of educational innovation. AI has the potential to

revolutionize teaching and learning, but it also presents ethical challenges that must be addressed

thoughtfully.

These dialogues were immensely enriching due to all of the information I gathered. They

also have significant implications, such as where our teaching will be coming from and how

much learning by students will be done with the help of AI. I'd like to hear your thoughts on

these scenarios and whether you see any practical implications or potential research avenues

stemming from these discussions.

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I am looking forward to delving deeper into these topics with you.

Warm regards,

Chase Aiken
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Works Cited:

Akgun, Selin, and Christine Greenhow. “Artificial Intelligence in Education: Addressing Ethical

Challenges in K-12 Settings - Ai and Ethics.” SpringerLink, Springer International

Publishing, 22 Sept. 2021, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43681-021-00096-7.

Alam, Ashraf. “Possibilities and Apprehensions in the Landscape of Artificial Intelligence in

Education.” IEEE, IEEE, 2020, ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9697272.

Chen, Lijia, et al. “Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Review | IEEE Journals ...” IEEE

Explore, 2020, ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9069875.

Hutson, Matthew. “Could AI Help You to Write Your next Paper?” Nature News, Nature

Publishing Group, 31 Oct. 2022, www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03479-w.

Nguyen, Andy, et al. “Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence in Education - Education and

Information Technologies.” SpringerLink, Springer US, 13 Oct. 2022,

link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10639-022-11316-w.

Perrotta, Carlo. “Deep Learning Goes to School: Toward a Relational Understanding ...” Taylor

and Francis Online, 17 Mar. 2019,

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17439884.2020.1686017.

Salvagno, Michele, et al. “Can Artificial Intelligence Help for Scientific Writing? - Critical
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Care.” BioMed Central, BioMed Central, 8 Mar. 2023,

ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13054-023-04380-2.