By: Cas Bransford

    After January 27th, students across the HCPSS will have access to Google Gemini on their school-issued Chromebooks. This is seen as a necessity to keep the contract with Google. This brings many differing opinions regarding this change amongst both teachers and students.

    “I don’t think [allowing Google Gemini] will change too much. It might increase usage, but students were already using AI before,” sophomore Austine Kang remarked. \

    This sentiment has been common amongst students. Prior to Gemini being given to students, many were using AI for anything from source-gathering and practice questions to full-on copy-pasting from AI for assignments. It’s fair to assume that this change will not have much of an effect. Students were plenty capable of accessing AI before this change, when nobody knew that students were using AI for homework. Some see this as having an effect on the school environment.

    “I disagree that students should have AI embedded on their computers and cannot opt out of the service. This also makes it even harder for teachers to trust that they are receiving work from students that is genuinely theirs,” English teacher Mrs. Majewski declared. 

    This change has raised some alarm for teachers. Academic integrity concerns have been an ever-increasing phenomenon ever since AI started being used by students more consistently. Understandably, teachers may feel like Mrs. Majewski, as AI is advancing at a rapid rate, making it harder to distinguish human work from AI in academics. It seems that some teachers distrust students, while students view themselves as integrous.

    “I feel like an ethical use for AI would be generating practice questions for Math or English,” sophomore Ralph Geromo shared. 

    These uses of AI do not claim any work to be the user’s. This is an example of a successful use of AI as a tool rather than a crutch. While opinions may vary on how ethical the use of AI is, it is generally accepted that non-plagiaristic uses like this are not a problem. The rolling out of Gemini to students could potentially help them learn to properly use AI to boost their productivity and studying. Of course, this all relies on how well it is implemented. On the other hand, some don’t trust that students know how to truly use AI ethically.

    “Most students are not experienced and mature enough to use AI ethically,” Mrs. Majewski said. 

    This is an interesting perspective from someone who has been working with high school students in Howard County for 21 years. Some teachers see students as irresponsible, while students see themselves as otherwise. There is more of a concern that students would be too immature and inexperienced to choose to use AI ethically, rather than if they know how to ethically use it.

    Clearly, there are many differing opinions among the students and staff of MRHS on the availability of AI for students. The AI Age is being ushered into the school systems, and only time will tell how it will impact education.