When you think of old movies or classic books, the topic of technology’s impact on our everyday lives in the future may arise. When we were young, the idea of robots taking over our brains seemed far-fetched, but has that time come?
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a major influence in schools and society as a whole. In school, AI-powered tools are helping students and teachers by offering personalized learning experiences, helping grading, and making information more accessible. For example, AI tutoring systems can adapt to each student’s style of learning, offering help in subjects. Teachers can also use AI to save time on repetitive tasks, giving them more time to focus on teaching.
However, the growing use of AI in academics also raises concerns. Relying too much on AI tools could reduce students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills if used too regularly. Some students might also misuse AI to complete assignments dishonestly, which can hurt their learning in the long run. Schools need to find the right balance between using AI to support education and making sure that students still develop essential skills on their own.
Beyond academics, AI also has effects on the environment. On one hand, it can help by improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, and supporting research into climate change. For example, AI can analyze large amounts of environmental data to help scientists better understand weather patterns or manage natural resources more sustainably. These technologies can lead to smarter cities and greener technologies.
On the other hand, AI systems require large amounts of energy to run—especially the powerful models that support things like chat bots or image generators. The data centers that train and host AI models can leave a significant carbon footprint. As AI continues to grow, it’s important that developers and companies find cleaner, more efficient ways to power these systems. Students and schools can also play a role by staying informed and making environmentally conscious tech choices
If we want our future world to be great, we must work on making smart decisions involving AI to ensure the people and planet can thrive successfully.
