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AI as Assistive and Efficiency Tools
Academic writing occupies an integral role in research and education as it gives academics and researchers the avenue to present data-driven arguments and logical reasoning. It is also where they get to deeply analyze concepts that lead to well-explained theories and conclusions.
However, academic writing entails handling vast amounts of complex ideas, theories, and other relevant data. Aside from that, an academic writer has to summarize and condense them all into one coherent, concise, and informative article or research paper.
It is for such a reason that many utilize software applications using AI algorithms to optimize and meet high standards of accuracy and logical structure. Depending on how sophisticated the software application may be, some writing tools also help research writers with vocabulary, syntax, and may even suggest content. In fact, according to a study conducted by Spanish classes marketplace Preply which compared human-written vs AI-generated text, 78% of student-written essays contained at least one error, whereas only 13% of AI-generated essays had errors.
As such, AI writing assistants have gained popularity among academic circles as it provides real-time feedback on the quality of their writing which helps them easily identify and correct writing faults.
Furthermore, AI can also assist in research by quickly summarizing information from other research papers and identifying key themes, allowing academic writers to focus more on critical analysis rather than data gathering.
Is AI Assistive or Destructive?
We have dissected the multifaceted perspectives surrounding the increasing role of AI in academic writing. While it offers numerous advantages, including efficiency and its assistive features, it is also necessary to address the accompanying risks and potential ethical concerns in using it.
Accordingly, many experts believe that AI writing tools can still be beneficial if used in moderation and regulation, and be used specifically for improving readability and writing quality in academic work. By fostering a culture of responsible AI use, there is no doubt that students and research writers can use it to their advantage without having to compromise academic integrity and the value of the academic research and writing experience.
As Dr. Vaishak Bell, Reader at the School of Informatics highlighted in Preply’s study: “Previously, many people didn’t know who to turn to, so it was a very isolating process. Now you have a companion who can answer some intermediate questions and give you feedback. Again, the extreme version of this is instead of asking your flatmate or your fellow students, we rely completely on this. I mean, that’s the worst-case outcome but I think as a tool – provided you use it within limits – I don’t see anything fundamentally problematic about it.”
As such, it is important to remember that in order for AI to positively flourish in the academic writing field, innovation should be balanced with ethical considerations. Instead of boxing it in either as an assistive tool or a destructive one, it should mainly be considered as a powerful assistant and should not replace critical thinking and originality which are considered to be the two cornerstones of academic work.