Artificial Intelligence is Taking Over Hough

October 27, 2025 - Zaida Clark (12)

More than half of students use artificial intelligence in their school work. (“AI in Education Statistics”) Society has become incredibly accustomed to technology in day-to-day life. Artificial intelligence is among the ever growing technological advancements and is quickly becoming adapted. AI, as it is more commonly known, has become an omnipresent figure in society. However, it has started to have large implications. AI’s role in schools, specifically Hough, has become more noticeable as the years go on. Mainly, students are starting to lose out on necessary educational opportunities. 

  Hough students have to deal with AI everyday. Not just through ChatGPT, but every app is introducing a new AI tool. Instagram, Snapchat, and X all have AI bots on their platforms. When students so much as type in a question on Google, the first thing they are met with is an AI generated response. The amount of AI exposure does vary by grade. 9th and 10th graders have had access to ChatGPT since middle school. 11th grade students have had ChatGPT since the end of their 9th grade year, and 12th graders since the end of their 10th grade year. This leads to students having varying opinions on the actual implications behind AI in school life. An anonymous 10th grade student says: “It makes it [school] easier, but I don’t learn as much.” This seems to be a common theme. Many students acknowledge that AI is hurting their education, yet admit to still using it. An assignment that students used to have to work through and figure out a solution can now easily be entered in ChatGPT and completed within a matter of seconds. Students will have a plethora of assignments and ChatGPT is a tantalizing forbidden fruit. It ruins the incentive for students, even hardworking ones. Why spend two hours on an assignment when you have a test and quiz tomorrow as well as soccer practice late into the evening? The reasoning used to be because there was no other choice, but now kids do have a choice. Malia Hubbard (12th), shared “It’s making me look and feel like the worst student in comparison to others because the work that I’m doing is my own original thought while other students are like, they’re using AI thoughts…” How are students supposed to be incentivized to challenge themselves if their peers are cheating their way through school? 

Hough teachers are noticing the impact as well. Some teachers are pro-AI. However, it seems that most are staunchly against it.  Mr. McCaffery, a 12th grade English 4 and AP Literature and Composition teacher says, “Students have not been taught how to ethically use AI…” He also elaborates on the integrity of students and how they don’t have enough to responsibly use AI. This once again regurgitates the point that students are not learning as much. Students are acknowledging the negative implications but then utilize AI anyway, leading to frustration among teachers. 

AI is a constantly growing industry. Its impacts are starting to be seen everywhere, including schools. Despite the fact that a lot of Hough students use AI, they understand it is a detriment to their education. Technology has been something that has impacted society since the magnetic compass was first developed. In the Modern Age we are continuing to advance, with some innovations having positive impacts. However, in order to minimize their negative impact regulation has to be put in place. Artificial intelligence is continuously evolving and if schools want to reap the benefits and stifle the consequences, the negative implications must be accounted for. 

“AI in Education Statistics.” Aiprm.com, 11 July 2024, www.aiprm.com/ai-in-education-statistics/.