Artificial Intelligence (AI) sites like ChatGPT and others have the capability to make incredible creations. But it also has the potential to create harmful products.

   When a person prompts an AI to do or create something, the site processes what needs to be done and presents the person prompting the program with the finished product. There is no physical limit to what AI can create, which leaves spacious room for dark thoughts to fill. English Language Arts teacher, Andrew House, has seen much of what AI can do.

   “What they always say is that it is a tool, you know, and I think a lot of students do not necessarily realize that it is a tool,” said House. “They assume that it is a means for students to cheat.” 

   AI can be used to cheat on assignments, especially essays. However, in the right hands, it is an impressive means of creativity and a way to generate ideas. Junior Jonathan Shafor has tinkered with AI sites multiple times and has used them to generate essay ideas, as well as images for his projects.

   “AI should be used for educational purposes because it is an easier way to look something up, and it is a smooth, capable way to fact-check something,” said Shafor.

   AI sites can make work easier in the classroom by automating processes and simplifying difficult tasks.

   “You should have the freedom to make an image that is a mix of Spider-Man and Superman, you could use that to write a story. At the same time, I do not think you should be able to do something negative with that,” said Shafor. 

   Just because someone can say or create what they want, with peaceful intentions, does not mean somebody has free reign using artificial intelligence.

   “If there is a lack of censorship, then I could make you wear a tutu [using image generators], or I could do something really inappropriate,” said Shafor. 

   It cannot be ruled out that people of all ages can view what AI creates. The content it displays can and will skew the views of young, shapable minds.

   “You cannot unleash some high-tech tool on the populace and let them use it however they please,” said House.  “You have to understand what the general etiquette is in the place where it is being used. I do not think we should be shutting down websites for things it creates.” 

   House states that AI cannot create something obscene or offensive by itself, which means that it is always the influence of the individual.

create what it does.

   “I could certainly put you in a tutu, and it would lead people to bully you because they think you do that willingly. That could lead to more cases of bullying,” said Shafor. 

Bullying in every form evolves with time, and the opportunity to use AI to cyberbully cannot be ruled out. That includes using AI to create images that demean people or reconfiguring AI prompts to provide misinformation. Those and multiple more give rudeness and disrespect power over the vulnerable.

   “If you had to lay the blame at somebody’s feet, it would have to be the person who used the tool and not the manufacturer or creator of the tool,” said House. 

   Harming a person’s reputation is not criminal, but the possibility of being sued by the harmed person is more than fictional. If any blame had to be laid, House knows it belongs to the hand that swung the weapon, not the weapon itself.

   “I suppose that for cyber-crimes in particular, it would be a lot easier to impersonate someone,” said House. 

   In years past, people have been crafty in hiding their actions. Using AI to divert attention away from the evildoer is another example. 

If a criminal were to rob a bank, they could use AI to frame an innocent party. It could be difficult to conclude that it was manipulated by something when it is designed to act on its own.

   “It should be used not in a cheating way, but in a learning way,” said Shafor.

   AI can be helpful in most situations, but it has not passed over Shafor’s thoughts that underhanded use is capable.

   “They [developers] cannot know exactly how people are going to use AI because they are providing a general guideline on how to use it,” said House. “The places it is being used have guidelines on how to use it. I do not think it needs to come back to the developers.” 

   Developers do not intend for their creations to be harmful in a general sense. Thus, if the AI creates something unethical, offensive, or anything negatory, then it does not befall the creators.

   AI is a creative tool that can easily switch between useful and harmful. The key to enabling a better world through this media is responsible usage.