The Future of Learning: Large Language Models through the Lens of Students

TL;DR

This study explores students' perceptions of ChatGPT, highlighting their mixed feelings about its benefits and ethical concerns, and emphasizing the need for cautious application in education due to its human-like qualities.

Contribution

It provides qualitative insights into students' interactions with ChatGPT, revealing their trust issues and ethical dilemmas, which are crucial for guiding responsible AI integration in education.

Findings

Students see ChatGPT as more human-like than traditional AI

Students experience trust and ethical concerns with ChatGPT

Mixed emotions influence students' attitudes towards AI in learning

Abstract

As Large-Scale Language Models (LLMs) continue to evolve, they demonstrate significant enhancements in performance and an expansion of functionalities, impacting various domains, including education. In this study, we conducted interviews with 14 students to explore their everyday interactions with ChatGPT. Our preliminary findings reveal that students grapple with the dilemma of utilizing ChatGPT's efficiency for learning and information seeking, while simultaneously experiencing a crisis of trust and ethical concerns regarding the outcomes and broader impacts of ChatGPT. The students perceive ChatGPT as being more "human-like" compared to traditional AI. This dilemma, characterized by mixed emotions, inconsistent behaviors, and an overall positive attitude towards ChatGPT, underscores its potential for beneficial applications in education and learning. However, we argue that despite its human-like qualities, the advanced capabilities of such intelligence might lead to adverse consequences. Therefore, it's imperative to approach its application cautiously and strive to mitigate potential harms in future developments.