The Potential of AI in Academia

A welcome tool, or an unwanted threat?

The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence at Illinois Central College delved into the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on education this semester, as it conducted a series of “AI Talks” exploring the latest innovations in, practical applications of, and ethical considerations brought about by the technology.

One event had over 20 individuals attend. At it, ICC Professor Brent Goken emphasized the trade-offs involved with AI. 

“My goal as a professor is to show my students an alternate, traditional way of creating written and oral work,” he said. However, Goken also raised concerns about potential job displacement. “There’s a lot to unpack, and it’s a wait-and-see type of circumstance.”

It’s not just professors who have concerns about these impending changes. ICC student Jeremy Barker weighed in, saying, “I think it could be really useful in the medical field and technology, but for learning purposes, it’s more being used to do the stuff for them rather than learning.”

According to a report by Markets and Markets, the AI sector is projected to grow 36.8% between 2023 and 2030, with an estimated revenue exceeding $100 billion in 2030.

Jeff Martson, ICC Academic Support Analyst, summarized how he thinks people should approach AI. 

“It’s important to see AI as a tool for learning and not a tool for doing the learning for you,” Martson said. “Keep in mind your objectives when using it. Are you trying to learn concepts or just have it do things for you? Keep your goals in mind so that you’re not relying on AI to do all the thinking for you.”