The advancement of AI is rapid, and its future impacts are currently uncertain.
Students at universities across the country are being pushed to consider the implications of such technology.
Is the rapid and unprecedented development of AI harmful, helpful or somewhere in between? There is a blend of opinions on the usefulness versus the potential harm of the developing tools.
Digital media and production senior Kyle Hossen aims to work behind the camera in live sports production after he graduates. Hossen has thought considerably about how AI impacts creative fields like his own.
“The only problem that I have with it is when it comes to things like generative AI, where it dips into visual mediums, because I think that when you’re creating imagery, you’re creating music or film with AI, there’s no pride in it,” Hossen said. “Because it’s not being created by something that has any intent or purpose.”
Many students who study creative fields and specialize in creating have similar thoughts when it comes to the integrity of what AI is asked to produce, but many make it clear that the impact is hard to predict.
History sophomore Caitlin Power aspires to create documentaries after she graduates. Powers has considered how AI might impact her future career.
“I think to a certain extent it could [replace people in my career]. I see a lot of people use AI to make plots and stuff,” Power said. “I would like to write documentaries and kind of gather that myself.”
Many students are still very unsure about what future advancements in AI will mean for their careers, and believe that the technology can be both helpful and harmful.
Marketing sophomore Makenah Reed plans to do social media for a hockey team upon graduation. She is an example of someone who has mixed views on AI tools and the impacts they could have on different jobs.
“I don’t think AI will necessarily take over my job,” Reed said. “I think it will be beneficial in some ways but harmful in other ways. It will advance how fast things can get done and open more jobs in other areas.”
While students are considering the implications of AI on their future careers, they have also expressed concern about other aspects of the technology.
History sophomore Cloey Hatton revealed her concern about the impacts that AI will have on the environment and the critical thinking skills of people who use it.
“I think it will be harmful because I think people are not going to learn to think for themselves,” Hatton said. “I think it has a lot of environmental impacts on wildlife and the amount of water usage, so I think it’s pretty bad.”
Students are considering the effects AI will have on more than just their own careers. For students who are weary of the technology, there are reasons beyond the fear of their future profession being lost.
Many students wish to preserve the integrity of creative careers and hobbies and see AI as a threat to these fields.
Television and digital media junior Paul Davidson hopes to get a job in the film industry after he graduates. He calls into question the impact that AI might have on the creative portion of filmmaking.
“I think if the industry continues to become reliant on AI, then I could see it potentially leading to all sorts of damage,” Davidson said. “Our films will begin to lose their artistic integrity and businesses will become over-reliant on data mining algorithms.”
While not every student believes they are at risk for losing the careers they haven’t even started, many are weary of the threat that AI could pose.