Dr. John, what’s your topic today?
“Artificial Intelligence (AI)” …. Whatever that is?
What do you mean?
Nowadays, everywhere you look there is some kind of “vague” reference to how AI is going to change our lives from now on. The news media has made it a popular buzzword, but when you try to get a clear-cut definition for AI, all you find is some nebulous statements that seem to come from a science fiction novel. Okay, I’m not against progress! In former times every elevator needed an operator to get you to the right floor. Today, this is no lon ger necessary.
Okay, but what does that have to do with the Business School?
Recently, a student submitted a seminar paper that had a large, colorful graph on the second page. It displayed time series data concerning the annual investments in five basic industries, comparing them to spending on tech nology innovation. It was a beautiful picture but there were no references indicating the source of the data. I asked the student and the reply was, “It came from the Internet.” I playfully responded, “Okay then, let’s see.” I started to Google the word Internet. The student laughed and added, “I used an AI program and it produced the graph.” Seemingly serious, I continued, “Then, you need a reference explaining that the origin of the data was AI?”
AI doesn’t generate historical data.
That’s my point, it doesn’t. AI programs, quickly and efficiently, access informa tion from the Internet and repackage it. I’m reminded of Amazon’s Alexa, when we ask, “Who was the 23rd President of the United States?” She will authorita tively reply, “The 23rd President of the United States was Benjamin Harrison (1889 – 1893).” Alexa is fun, but she is only a facilitator and not an originator of anything. When students use data they must disclose the original source.
Plagiarism is a serious academic crime!
Plagiarism involves stealing someone else’s “intellectual property” and pre senting it as the original thought of the author. AI tools are not generating any original thought; they are simply locating and distributing the ideas of others. The “others” who created the ideas must be recognized to avoid plagiarism.
The label “unique content” has been used to justify AI assisted tools.
Before the output of ChatGPT can be considered original, its software must start thinking. Referring to the eleva tor example, maybe AI-Elevators of the future will decide which floor you should get off at.
Are you indicating that Artificial Intelligence isn’t really intelligent?
AI is not intelligent; it is advanced software, but it doesn’t think for itself. For example, if an AI tool answers a question or offers some advice, should we consider the output as original thought? I asked ChatGPT the following question and received this answer. One must wonder if ChatGPT has any per sonal experience concerning an MBA education ?
Question: “Should I study for a MBA degree?”
ChatGPT’s answer: “Ultimately, the decision to pursue an MBA should be based on a thorough assessment of your individual circum stances and goals. It may be helpful to speak with professionals in your field, alumni of MBA programs, or career advisors to gain additional insights and perspectives before making a decision.” (Text generated by ChatGPT, March 18, 2024, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com (The footnote was suggested by the University of Chicago)
What is wrong with using that refe rence?
Footnotes or Endnotes are used to indicate the source of the “knowled ge” presented in a paper. The citation above simply refers to a “mechani cal software-engine,” namely ChatGPT that formulates English language sen tences. The “thinking-human-beings” who provided the information are not named.
What do you mean?
The AI tool, ChatGPT, does not generate its own original thought. The program simply searches through a huge quan tity of data and produces a written out put without understanding any of the concepts involved. It uses the thoughts of others, but does not reveal who they are. Google Translate converts the ChatGTP English output into the German language without understan ding the languages or the content. „Letztendlich sollte die Entscheidung für ein MBA-Studium auf einer gründ lichen Beurteilung Ihrer individuellen Umstände und Ziele basieren. Es kann hilfreich sein, mit Fachleuten in Ihrem Fachgebiet, Absolventen von MBA Programmen oder Karriereberatern zu sprechen, um zusätzliche Einblicke und Perspektiven zu gewinnen, bevor Sie eine Entscheidung treffen.“ We’re not just talking about prin ted words, whether they are English, Chinese, French, or whatever. We are interested in the “thoughts” being pre sented. The AI tool ChatGPT is an “infor mation-outsourcer.” The information presented was generated by others. It repackages thoughts and delivers them without revealing any sources. It is plagiarism in its purest form because the original thinkers are hidden from view. Our Seminar Papers and Master’s Theses contain a signed legal statement on the last page declaring, “I assure that this is a result of my personal work ….. “ That means, the document presented for credit was written by the student, using sources that are properly referenced.
Dr. John, thank you for your thoughts.
Anytime, it’s always a pleasure
