The academic landscape shifted dramatically in November 2022 with the launch of ChatGPT, a chatbot developed by OpenAI. ChatGPT is artificial intelligence software that can write essays, poems, code and perform other tasks traditionally done by humans.
Articles were quickly published foretelling the death of academic integrity in general and the college essay in particular. Other writers suggested that the new technology might have something useful to offer faculty members and students alike.
GW Libraries and Academic Innovation recently sponsored a panel discussion on the topic, involving faculty from multiple disciplines. The discussion, at Gelman Library, was attended by well over 200 people, some virtually and some in person.
Ryan Watkins, professor and director of GSEHD’s Educational Technology Leadership Program, began by acknowledging that ChatGPT is a “big step forward” before describing some of his own tests of the software.