Listen to the young people.
Many, many of the students in my life are finding various ways to describe AI as cringe. Whether it’s that literal statement, or calling AI clankers, or just complaining about “AI slop.”
I’m heartened by this wholesale rejection of AI as a creative tool. However, there are a couple of nuances to consider, with predictions.
- This is a boon for creators of actual artistic experiences – art classes, ensemble music making, theatre.
- AI will still be used, but it’ll be used in “plug my nose and swallow the pill” situations. They won’t feel good about it.
- Generative AI will still be a widely used tool for school projects when the students don’t clearly see the value of doing the work. Assignments must be more creative, engaging, and clearly valuable if you don’t want students to lean heavily on generative AI.
AI is cringe, but it’s also here to stay. Figure out how to adapt.