{"id":160931,"date":"2023-11-14T13:19:53","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T12:19:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=160931"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:02","slug":"problematic-or-a-tool-to-democratize-knowledge-what-students-think-of-chatgpt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/11\/14\/problematic-or-a-tool-to-democratize-knowledge-what-students-think-of-chatgpt\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Problematic\u2019 or \u2018a tool to democratize knowledge\u2019: what students think of ChatGPT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Artificial intelligence platforms, particularly large language models such as ChatGPT, are the order of the day amongst universities and school systems all over the world. A year after its release, students share their perception of ChatGPT.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSara Cardoso<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The popularisation of artificial intelligence chatbots amongst students has steadily grown, concerning educators and scholars on the impact of AI on education as we know it. Launched in November of last year, ChatGPT allows the user to instantly generate text by typing down pieces of information and steering the system in the desired direction with specific commands. \u201cIt is easy to learn by yourself and there are quite a lot of videos on YouTube on how to use the tool\u201d, explains Hubert (18), who just started his bachelor\u2019s degree at EUR. His first contact with ChatGPT happened in search of new ideas to create motivational video content for his Instagram and YouTube accounts.<\/p>\n

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Hubert thinks ChatGPT doesn't help you learn something new.<\/span><\/p>

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Despite the helpful initial experience, nowadays, the Communication and Media student declares to not use the platform anymore: \u201cWhy would I use it when I\u2019m a student trying to learn something new?\u201d In Hubert\u2019s perspective, making mistakes is one of the most important parts of the learning process, and a \u2018beneficial\u2019 aspect of organic thinking that would be removed by using artificial intelligence in university work.<\/p>\n

Likewise, Lina (21), a first-year master student of Commercial Law, doesn\u2019t use AI frequently: only as a \u2018source of inspiration\u2019 for assignment topics, but remaining cautious to avoid plagiarism.<\/p>\n

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According to Lina, ChatGPT isn't serving an academic purpose.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLina Mingers<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Both students believe that universities should use generative artificial intelligence in small doses, as a search tool for information and to source out ideas, but not to generate academic text. \u201cFor educational purposes, I think that ChatGPT is a bit problematic\u201d, states Lina, \u201cbecause it is not serving the academic purpose, since an individual should learn how to do their own research and writing.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the contrary, Chiara (24), starting her Premaster in Media, Culture and Society, considers the AI chatbot a \u2018good tool\u2019 that can \u2018democratise knowledge for everybody\u2019. For the student, who started using ChatGPT during an internship, the amount of data contained in a single platform \u2018can help bridge some educational and even social gaps\u2019 when it comes to accessing information.<\/p>\n

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Chiara believes that AI chatbots can democratise knowledge.<\/span><\/p>

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Nevertheless, Chiara alerts for the dangers of not fact-checking \u2018what AI is giving back to you\u2019, as platforms like ChatGPT \u2018have their limitations\u2019 and can provide misinformation. The student also believes that there are some \u2018other ethical issues\u2019 that should be taken into consideration, such as the sourcing and protection of data used to train the algorithm.<\/p>\n

But should ChatGPT be allowed in universities? Chiara figures that it can be advantageous when its use is \u2018properly\u2019 taught to students. \u201cI think that prohibiting it is more damaging than having it regulated because students will use it, of course, but they will use it the wrong way\u201d, she adds.<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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