I believe that any form of ChatGPT is a tool that needs close scrutiny. It should never replace critical thinking, content verification, or the assumption that AI-driven ideas are completely reliable, or the creation of full works. When taking on an education role, pedagogy must come first and not rely solely on AI content. While it can be a great support tool, individuals must verify AI content and not take it at face value. Educators should consider their own ideas, or even draw on ideas from fellow educators, before using AI. As educators, we are the first line of defense, and AI derives from human content, not the other way around. So, it seems it would behoove us as educators to rely more on each other for support and ideas than on a bot.

There are other major risks when using AI that someone should be aware of. There are explicit warnings not to share any private information that could lead to nefarious action. Some with AI technological prowess can easily hack into your accounts, or at least make it look like they are a veritable source and gain entry to your personal information and accounts. I think this raises serious concerns when sharing personal info about students, in particular. I have recently worked with special education teachers who use AI platforms to help them develop IEPs. I'm now wondering if this is safe, because an IEP definitely contains a lot of personal information. I would rather create IEP content on my own, as arduous as it may be, or create templates that can be added to document fields without including personal information.

Ultimately, technology is a mainstay and integral part of student learning. With that, it is pertinent for teachers to be at the forefront of that technology and have the skills to use those tools in a classroom setting. This can look like using communication devices for a student with severe disabilities, or even just speech-to-text. With ever-advancing technology, I understand it is essential to stay up to date on what tools are out there and to verify them safely. Only then can we assure the promise of fair education for all children in a safe environment.