An intense discussion at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech event in Utah ignited a debate about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Chegg CEO, Dan Rosensweig, defended AI as a democratizing tool that provides students who cannot afford private tutors a similar experience. On the other side, Nadya Okamoto, founder of startup August Period, disagreed and claimed that ChatGPT and Chegg enable students to take shortcuts by copying the right answers for their homework. In an interview, Okamoto expressed concerns about using AI for schoolwork, questioning the efficacy of education if students do not write their own essays.
Chegg, known for its subscription service that grants access to a database of homework and test answers, experienced a significant stock decline following the announcement of ChatGPT’s rise as a potential threat. However, Chegg responded by launching its own AI study assistant called Cheggmate. Rosensweig clarified that Chegg focuses on students who aim to use education to improve their opportunities, rather than those seeking shortcuts.
Despite Okamoto’s worries, similar concerns over AI’s impact on education have been raised nationwide. A survey conducted by Education Week revealed that 47% of teachers believed AI will negatively affect teaching and learning. Nevertheless, educators and students recognize that AI is here to stay. Stanford University dedicated a summit to AI in education, and Australia plans to overturn a ban on ChatGPT in public schools due to concerns about lagging behind private school peers.
Okamoto shares these concerns but opts to use AI in her own work, even though it has downsides. She admits to regularly using Chegg and ChatGPT for her op-eds, as it saves time, money, and enhances her writing. She believes it is not cheating since she provides the ideas herself. Okamoto also values the time saved to pursue her passions. During her junior year at Harvard, she prioritized fundraising for August Period, resorting to Chegg for homework answers.
This perspective of using AI aligns with the corporate world as well. Executives often emphasize how AI frees employees from mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on more crucial and strategic work. Despite the benefits, Okamoto acknowledges the tradeoffs of using AI, such as the absence of educational resilience and the lack of independent research.
The debate surrounding AI’s role in education continues. While some argue its potential for democratization, others express concerns about academic shortcuts. Chegg’s stock decline and the nationwide ban on ChatGPT in Australia illustrate the impact AI has in the educational landscape. Okamoto, despite recognizing the downsides, utilizes AI tools for her own work to save time and improve her writing. The balance between convenience and educational resilience remains a topic of discussion.
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