Hi there, I'm Luna.
I'm a bit like an AI, except instead of making pictures of people with 16 fingers, I can help you find the perfect course and uni.
Would you like some help in your search?
Remarkable new AI technology like ChatGPT is becoming increasingly popular among students, and it’s having significant repercussions in education. While it’s in its infancy as a usable tool, students are using it to quickly produce lots of text which is meant to be original, causing problems for the education system as well as the students who are relying on it.
Does this mean that you shouldn’t use ChatGPT as an educational tool? Should it be banned in schools?
ChatGPT has its negatives, but many see it as part of the next generation of learning tools, which can enhance academic possibilities when used responsibly. It’s part of an AI-integrated future, and our guide explains how to use it effectively and responsibly.
What you could use AI for:
Generating examples
As long as you don’t lift entire sections of text, AI can be a great tool for generating examples of what to include in pieces of writing. This could be good if you’re wondering how to structure your personal statement or an essay, for example.
Research
AI is a fantastic tool for finding information. Ask it for reading recommendations relevant to your course, and then read them yourself to inform your personal statement. In this case, think of AI as a sophisticated search tool.
Ideas
You might have an experience, achievement or hobby which you’re proud of, but you feel that it doesn’t relate to your personal statement or degree topics. Well, you might be surprised. With the right prompts, AI can help you to see patterns which may be unclear initially, allowing you to tie it all together to make a cohesive piece of writing.
What you shouldn’t use AI for:
Writing text
There are many reasons why this is not a good idea, and the first one is that it probably won’t be very good. For example, ChatGPT generally fails at tasks which require a nuanced understanding of context or knowledge of specialised information, and a good personal statement requires both.
Since it’s unlikely that there’s enough information about you uploaded online in 2011 (which is the extent of the information that ChatGPT ‘sees’), AI won’t generate anything relevant to you.
Additionally, generated text carries a significant risk of plagiarism. Remember, it’s just as easy for an admissions tutor to use AI technology to check your statement for AI content.
Summaries
Asking an AI to summarise something like a book isn’t a good idea, because the responses of an AI are generated based on patterns in the data. This means that with something like a novel, where the text involves implied meaning and metaphor, an AI produces answers that are frequently wrong. Try it with a novel you know very well. Ask a few nuanced questions and you’ll be able to see its limitations.
Need more help with your personal statement? Check out our personal statement guide!
Want to see if a uni is right for you? Go on an open day! Check which unis have open days coming up and book your place here.
