My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking • Hacker News Board

Re: My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking

#51

Post by nyrikki » Mon, Jan 06, 2025, 5:10 PM UTC

moduspwnens14 wrote: post #15

clejack wrote: post #12

There's some grim humor in the fact that the poster reflects on his sister's use of chatgpt, and just ends on that point. I have to wonder if he decided to talk to her or his parents about the situation. I didn't see anything in the post to suggest it, just a "this next generation is cooked." Who cooked them is the question? Children won't raise themselves generally.

My daughter is only 1 and a half years old now, but my concern is more that she'll be implicitly competing with classmates that are using tools like this, whether we allow her to use them or not.

Reminder, you win by learning the material, not by completing the homework.

Re: My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking

#52

Post by dr_dshiv » Mon, Jan 06, 2025, 5:10 PM UTC

Carrok wrote: post #8

wumeow wrote: post #2

Invert the class format: Homework should be done in class on pencil/paper or locked down Chromebooks, and lectures can be watched on video at home.

Or just do everything in class. Out of class work should go away entirely.

But then how will kids learn to use ChatGPT?

Re: My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking

#53

Post by wvenable » Mon, Jan 06, 2025, 5:10 PM UTC

moduspwnens14 wrote: post #15

clejack wrote: post #12

There's some grim humor in the fact that the poster reflects on his sister's use of chatgpt, and just ends on that point. I have to wonder if he decided to talk to her or his parents about the situation. I didn't see anything in the post to suggest it, just a "this next generation is cooked." Who cooked them is the question? Children won't raise themselves generally.

My daughter is only 1 and a half years old now, but my concern is more that she'll be implicitly competing with classmates that are using tools like this, whether we allow her to use them or not.

I'm not sure how that would play out but I think there is some validness in that concern. It's the same with smartphones; you deny your kid one because you want them to socialize in person but if they're the only kid without a smartphone then they'll be socially isolated.

Everything has to be managed in moderation.

As for ChatGPT, I use it all the time for learning. And I've used it to help my kid study. But I wouldn't give my kid unfettered access to it just like I don't give him unfettered access to anything.

Re: My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking

#54

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Jan 06, 2025, 5:11 PM UTC

duxup wrote: post #30

clejack wrote: post #12

There's some grim humor in the fact that the poster reflects on his sister's use of chatgpt, and just ends on that point. I have to wonder if he decided to talk to her or his parents about the situation. I didn't see anything in the post to suggest it, just a "this next generation is cooked." Who cooked them is the question? Children won't raise themselves generally.

It makes me think this whole article is maybe just rage bait.

[deleted]

Re: My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking

#55

Post by miltonlost » Mon, Jan 06, 2025, 5:11 PM UTC

engineer_22 wrote: post #24

pdonis wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A calculator can be trusted to give you the right answer if you punch in the numbers correctly. An LLM cannot. That's because a calculator is designed to give the right answer. An LLM is not. It's only designed to produce text that seems plausible based on the prompt. "Plausible" is not the same as "trustworthy".

To play the devils advocate, on some calculators 9+3x2=24

That's not playing devil's advocate. That's you not understanding how the calculator was programmed.

A graphing calculator in which you can put (9+3x2) before pressing enter is different than a adding calculator in which you can only do sequential binary operations (9+3, enter, x2, enter).

The calculator is programmed exactly to do as it was. Both calculators are correct in their programming. It's you who mistyped what you intended.

Re: My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking

#56

Post by MattGaiser » Mon, Jan 06, 2025, 5:11 PM UTC

nyrikki wrote: post #51

moduspwnens14 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My daughter is only 1 and a half years old now, but my concern is more that she'll be implicitly competing with classmates that are using tools like this, whether we allow her to use them or not.

Reminder, you win by learning the material, not by completing the homework.

Society certainly doesn't reward school performance in that way. You win by the grade earned, however it was obtained.

Re: My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking

#57

Post by devin » Mon, Jan 06, 2025, 5:11 PM UTC

torpfactory wrote: post #34

jmclnx wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also saw an article on here that to me that seems to support your statement: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42609948 I also have a relative going for a PHD, he says many times for the classes he teaches, students are using AI for their homework. He has brought that up may times to his superiors but the response tends to be "oh well". Sad world we may be heading towards :(

It’s a bit like the old saying about the banks: “If you owe the bank $10,000 it’s your problem. If you owe the bank $10,000,000 it’s the banks problem”. If everyone in class is using LLMs to cheat, it’s really the university/instructors problem and it may be easier to bury their heads in the sand then to change their teaching methods and lesson plans. You can’t fail them all…

Why not?

Re: My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking

#58

Post by ceejayoz » Mon, Jan 06, 2025, 5:11 PM UTC

nyrikki wrote: post #51

moduspwnens14 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My daughter is only 1 and a half years old now, but my concern is more that she'll be implicitly competing with classmates that are using tools like this, whether we allow her to use them or not.

Reminder, you win by learning the material, not by completing the homework.

For "personal growth" contexts, yes. For "valedictorian and GPA for college" sort of contexts, no.

Re: My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking

#59

Post by zidad » Mon, Jan 06, 2025, 5:12 PM UTC

lenkite wrote: post #6

At this rate, people will just accept AI Overlords without any battle or revolution.

Reminds me of the final outcome of the absurd series Mrs. Davis, where (spoiler warning) humanity has voluntarily succombed to the arbitrary assignments of a single AI-based customer rewards points app, because it was just a bit smarter than humans at manipulating people.

Re: My little sister's use of ChatGPT for homework is heartbreaking

#60

Post by segasaturn » Mon, Jan 06, 2025, 5:12 PM UTC

moduspwnens14 wrote: post #15

clejack wrote: post #12

There's some grim humor in the fact that the poster reflects on his sister's use of chatgpt, and just ends on that point. I have to wonder if he decided to talk to her or his parents about the situation. I didn't see anything in the post to suggest it, just a "this next generation is cooked." Who cooked them is the question? Children won't raise themselves generally.

My daughter is only 1 and a half years old now, but my concern is more that she'll be implicitly competing with classmates that are using tools like this, whether we allow her to use them or not.

I don't understand this sentiment, even though it is common among Americans. Why is education seen as a competition between students, even in the younger grades? I've even heard stories of parents of young children fighting with each other over their children's grades.