Why Students Should Not Use ChatGPT for Homework: The Risks and Consequences

Yesterday, I met a friend and we talked about ChatGPT. His 12 year old daughter was present during our conversation and she overheard us. After a while, she asked if ChatGPT could help her with her homework. I initially said yes, but later I realized she should not use this tool, and I informed her that it is meant for grown-ups.

I personally don't think children should use ChatGPT to get their homework done, and use their own skills for the same.

Below are some reasons why students should avoid relying on ChatGPT for their schoolwork:

1. Lack of originality: ChatGPT is trained on vast amounts of text data, which means it can generate text that appears to be written by a human. However, the text generated by ChatGPT is not original and is not created by the student. This could result in academic consequences such as plagiarism if the text is not properly cited.
   

1. Incomplete understanding: Students should use homework assignments as an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the material they have learned. By relying on ChatGPT to do their homework, students risk missing out on the opportunity to solidify their own understanding of the subject.
   

1. Inaccurate information: While ChatGPT is trained on vast amounts of data, it is not always accurate. It is possible that the information generated by the model is incorrect or outdated. This could lead to students submitting homework assignments with false information, which could negatively impact their grades.
   

1. Decreased critical thinking skills: By relying on ChatGPT to do their homework, students may miss the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and creativity. Homework assignments are designed to challenge students to think and problem solve, and relying on ChatGPT takes away from this important aspect of the learning process.
   

1. Decreased teacher engagement: When students rely on ChatGPT to do their homework, it limits the teacher's ability to provide feedback and engage with the student. Teachers are an important part of the learning process and should be given the opportunity to provide feedback and support to students.
   

In conclusion, while ChatGPT is a powerful language model, it is not appropriate for students to use it for their homework assignments. Students should strive to demonstrate their understanding of the material, develop critical thinking skills, and engage with their teachers in order to succeed academically.

_{Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}