A Dartmouth professor is shocked by Gen Z's fear of AI: Are they losing their humanity? #AIAnxiety
Scott Anthony, a Dartmouth College alumnus, thought he was leaving the corporate battlefield behind when he joined the faculty in 2022. Little did he know, he was stepping right into the AI revolution, witnessing its profound impact on his students.
Anthony, a former McKinsey consultant, reveals a surprising sentiment among the next generation of leaders—fear. Not just excitement, but genuine anxiety about AI. Many students are hesitant, worried that relying on AI might cost them their humanity. This contrasts with the enthusiasm of long-serving academics eager to embrace new tools.
Anthony, author of 'Epic Disruptions', discusses teaching disruption during a disruptive era. He believes that while the path forward is unclear, history shows that change is often chaotic. Students' fears about AI are not unfounded, as over-dependence on AI may hinder critical thinking skills.
An MIT study, 'Your Brain on ChatGPT', suggests that AI use correlates with reduced cognitive activity, implying that AI might make us less intelligent. However, critics argue that AI is like a calculator, and students haven't been challenged enough to truly test their abilities.
Anthony emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning. He encourages students to use AI but also to expose the process, ensuring they learn and don't just rely on AI outputs. He respects Stanford's Jure Leskovec's approach of handwritten exams but prefers a more balanced method.
Anthony draws inspiration from Jerry Seinfeld's work ethic, believing that the hard way is the right way. He urges students to put in the effort to manage AI effectively, avoiding the temptation to offload everything to AI.
He also cites Julia Child's journey, showing that success often comes after numerous failures. Child's story is a reminder that disruption is about ordinary people's behaviors and curiosity, not just superheroes. Anthony encourages students to embrace the messy journey, learn from failures, and not fear AI but use it wisely.
