Young people pushing back against artificial intelligence
AI may be here to stay, but the generation that will inherit the results of the guidelines set for its use has something to say about that.
A young generation is resisting the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), feeling trapped and concerned about its impact on their independence and future. This sentiment echoes an episode of The Twilight Zone, where a couple becomes compulsively reliant on a fortune-telling machine.
Nearly 80% of Australian students used generative AI while studying last year, with the percentage rising to 94% in recent international reports. Gallup's latest study found that Gen Z's attitude towards AI has worsened, with the majority fearing its use comes at a cost, particularly to learning.
Elise Humphreys, a 19-year-old student at Curtin University, feels AI stops her from using her brain independently and sees it as a "cheat code" that prevents her from being as smart as the professionals in her field. However, she admits she uses AI to avoid falling behind.
Jenson Rainbird, a 16-year-old high school student, wants to be a lawyer but feels locked out of the AI regulation discussion because he is too young to have a say in implementation. His father, Justin, believes AI is an economic tool that adds value and should not be avoided.
Ingrid, another student, is particularly concerned about the environmental impacts of AI, citing the water needed to cool data centers and the drought-prone environment in Australia. Her mother, Cat Miedecke, a teacher, shares her concerns and notes that her child's photo was manipulated by AI without their consent.
The public has responded to these concerns, with almost two-thirds of Australians believing AI is moving too fast. However, despite the widespread opposition, AI is not going away anytime soon.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
