From the first iPad in 2010 with a built-in assistant Siri, to Amazon Alexa in 2014, artificial intelligence has shown that it’s here to stay. WCHS students can now go onto the internet and search for ways for their devices to create works of art. Recently a trend has emerged for users to be able to listen to songs created by AI using the voices of their favorite artists. Songs like “Cuff It” by Beyonce and “Munch” by Ice Spice have been sung by Rihanna and Drake with technical assistance. Artificial intelligence has shown that it is a force to be reckoned with, but it has several dangers.

According to a study done by Utrecht University in December 2020, test subjects that relied less on technology had a better understanding of the task at hand and were able to work independently compared to those who had the assistance of intelligence. In other words, if MCPS does not take further measures, AI will continue to create an environment of lazy and incapable students that will not be successful in society. MCPS should encourage English departments to help adjust students to be more comfortable with handwritten group projects to raise communication skills.

Not only will WCHS students’ futures be affected by AI, but their teachers and staff might have their jobs on the line. According to research done by Pew Research Center and Elon University, the efficiencies and other economic advantages of code-based machine intelligence will continue to disrupt all aspects of human work. While some expect new jobs will emerge, others worry about massive job losses, widening economic divides, and social upheavals, including populist uprisings.

Unlike popular opinion, the intelligence community has taken a toll on creativity and innovation in society. In March of 2023, popular denim brand Levi’s announced that they would be launching AI models later on in the year. This new take on the modeling industry could potentially affect careers and individuality due to the elimination of humans in catalog modeling. With the use of intelligence systems to display clothing, the fabricated models could have a negative impact on the beauty standard. This could potentially create unrealistic standards for people across the world.

Paper-written responses and handwritten essays are pretty uncommon at WCHS. Students and teachers prefer to use technology for these matters. The next generation of leaders has to develop their skills in ways that work for their generation. WCHS staff could implement the use of students’ abilities to more non-technology assisted activities in the classroom that don’t have to be as dreadful as written assignments. 

To conclude, the rise of more powerful AI will result in a lack of effort and creativity among WCHS students and will hinder their ability to become functioning members of society. WCHS and MCPS should take measures to stop the current generation from being so overly dependent on technology. The county could enforce more paper tests and handwritten projects. As well as the use of encyclopedias and the library for research projects. If the school and county fail to do this, the damage will be irreparable.