With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), schools across the country are making changes, but Point Park University is not one of those schools. Although the topic is being discussed, Point Park does not currently have any policies regarding the use of AI. In fact, professors seem ready to embrace the change.

Chris Rolinson, the chairman of the School of Communication, has a surprising opinion on the use of AI on campus.

“I think that it [AI] is inescapable. From my perspective, it is another tool. Like how in math when you use a calculator. I think that right now is the time to learn how to use this tool because it is so new,” said Rolinson. 

AI can be used for more than getting one’s homework done. It can help a student to generate what they are visualizing in their heads and put it into words. It is still the students’ thoughts, but the AI generates the grammar and structure. 

“It’s just another great invention that human beings have devised,” said Rolinson. “I think that in cases of plagiarism it’s not a good thing, but I think there is a space for it and I think that has yet to be defined. I think there is going to be quite a bit of discussion about what that means.” 

The people who Rolinson sees leading the conversation about AI use on campus are those from the writing center, the library, and from the people in the creative writing department. 

Corey Shaffer, a creative writing major and philosophy minor, said, “AI is incredibly useful, and I’m certain students could accelerate their learning process by using it. I think students and teachers need to come up with ways to use this new technology and be open to the changes it makes in our academic process.”

Shaffer said that he believes it’s normal to be negative about AI, but most of the hate just comes from a lack of knowledge that people have about it.

 “I feel that there is a lot of negativities surrounding the use of AI,” Shaffer said. “Some of which I feel is warranted, like doing the homework you’re too lazy to do, but mostly it is just from a lack of understanding.” 

On the contrary, acting major Linus Brannam does not view AI in the same way.

“AI snowballs really easily,” Brannam said. “I feel like it can be abused for a lot of different things.” 

As technology continues to grow and adapt, schools will need to change with it. Only time will tell what Point Park decides to do in regard to the oncoming storm that is artificial intelligence.