Being Wise in Using AI: A Mark of a Modern Student
By Dr. Abdul Wadud Nafis, Lc., MEI
In today’s digital era, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a new companion for students in learning and creating. However, like a double-edged sword, AI can be an extraordinary tool or a trap that dulls critical thinking. Therefore, it is essential for students to use it wisely—so that AI doesn’t replace the brain, but sharpens it.
Here are ways students can use AI wisely to gain maximum benefit while remaining ethical:
1. As a tool, not a replacement
Use AI to assist with research, brainstorming, or accelerating understanding, but always perform your own analysis and critical thinking.
2. Verify AI-generated results
Never fully trust AI outputs without checking. Always fact-check, verify references, and ensure accuracy to avoid errors or plagiarism.
3. Use it to learn, not to cheat
AI can help explain difficult concepts, but not to complete assignments or theses in full. Students must still make the effort to understand the material.
4. Maintain academic integrity
Avoid using AI to plagiarize or copy others’ work without permission and acknowledgment. Use AI as an honest supporting tool.
5. Harness it to build new skills
Use AI to learn new skills such as coding, foreign languages, or data analysis that can support your future career.
6. Cultivate creativity
Let AI provide inspiration, then develop those ideas with a personal creative touch so the work remains original.
By using AI wisely, students become not only technologically savvy but also morally and intellectually resilient. Let AI be a tool, not a crutch—so that achievement is born of true intelligence, not merely machine assistance.
References:
1. Aoun, J.E. (2017). Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. MIT Press.
2. Tegmark, M. (2017). Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Penguin Books.
3. UNESCO. (2021). AI and Education: Guidance for Policy-makers. Paris: UNESCO Publishing.
4. Floridi, L. (2019). The Logic of Information: A Theory of Philosophy as Conceptual Design. Oxford University Press.
5. Bynum, T.W., & Rogerson, S. (2021). Ethics of Computing: A Concise Module. Springer.
6. Rahman, M.F. (2023). “Ethics in the Use of AI in the Academic World.” Journal of Education and Technology, 14(2), 115–123.
7. Haryono, T. (2022). “AI in Higher Education: Between Opportunities and Challenges.” Indonesian Journal of Educational Science, 9(1), 45–57.
