ChatGPT use linked to sinking academic performance and memory loss – Yahoo News UK

ChatGPT use is linked to bad results and memory loss. (Getty Images)

Using AI software such as ChatGPT is linked to poorer academic performance, memory loss and increased procrastination, a study has shown.

The AI chatbot ChatGPT can generate convincing answers to simple text prompts, and is already used weekly by up to 32% of university students, according to research last year.

The new study found that university students who use ChatGPT to complete assignments find themselves in a vicious circle where they dont give themselves enough time to do their work and are forced to rely on ChatGPT, and over time, their ability to remember facts diminishes.

The research was published in the International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education. Scientists conducted interviews with 494 students about their use of ChatGPT, with some admitting to being "addicted" to using the technology to complete assignments.

The researchers wrote: "Since ChatGPT can quickly respond to any questions asked by a user, students who excessively use ChatGPT may reduce their cognitive efforts to complete their academic tasks, resulting in poor memory. Over time, over-reliance on generative AI tools for academic tasks, instead of critical thinking and mental exertion, may damage memory retention, cognitive functioning, and critical thinking abilities."

In the interviews, the researchers were able to pinpoint problems experienced by students who habitually used ChatGPT to complete their assignments.

The researchers surveyed students three times to work out what sort of student is most likely to use ChatGPT, and what effects heavy users experienced.

The researchers then asked questions about the effects of using ChatGPT.

Study author Mohammed Abbas, from the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences in Pakistan, told PsyPost: "My interest in this topic stemmed from the growing prevalence of generative artificial intelligence in academia and its potential impact on students.

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"For the last year, I observed an increasing, uncritical, reliance on generative AI tools among my students for various assignments and projects I assigned. This prompted me to delve deeper into understanding the underlying causes and consequences of its usage among them."

The study found that students who were results-focused were less likely to rely on AI tools to do tasks for them.

The research also found that students who relied on ChatGPT were not getting the full benefit of their education - and actually lost the ability to remember facts.

"Our findings suggested that excessive use of ChatGPT can have harmful effects on students personal and academic outcomes. Specifically, those students who frequently used ChatGPT were more likely to engage in procrastination than those who rarely used ChatGPT," Abbas said.

"Similarly, students who frequently used ChatGPT also reported memory loss. In the same vein, students who frequently used ChatGPT for their academic tasks had a poor grade average."

The researchers found that students who felt under pressure were more likely to turn to ChatGPT - but that this then led to worsening academic performance and further procrastination and memory loss.

The researchers suggest that academic institutions should be mindful that heavy workloads can drive students to use ChatGPT.

The researchers also said academics should warn students of the negative impact of using the software.

"Higher education institutions should emphasise the importance of efficient time management and workload distribution while assigning academic tasks and deadlines," they said.

"While ChatGPT may aid in managing heavy academic workloads under time constraints, students must be kept aware of the negative consequences of excessive ChatGPT usage."

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ChatGPT use linked to sinking academic performance and memory loss - Yahoo News UK

Global Aerospace’s SM4 Aviation Safety Program Offers Insights on Understanding Power Within an Organization – GlobeNewswire

Morris Plains, March 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the world of safety management, power might not be the first word that comes to mind. However, we're going to explore an intriguing conceptthe power that safety managers possess and how we can harness it to create a significant impact within our organizations.

Safety managers are, in essence, safety leaders, and they have the ability to influence and drive change through the power of leadership. In this article, we'll break down the concept of power into a pyramid, similar to Heinrich's Pyramid, and explore the different levels of power that safety managers can wield to make a real difference.

Understanding Power Within an Organization

At the base of our power pyramid, we have Legitimate Power, Reward Power and Coercive Power. These powers are closely associated with an organization's hierarchy.

Legitimate Power comes from holding a position of authority, such as a vice president of safety. However, it's important to note that in some cases, titles like director of safety may not necessarily carry legitimate authority. Reward Power allows safety managers to provide incentives for correct actions or use rewards to influence behavior, while Coercive Power involves using punishment to steer actions. Unfortunately, many safety managers may not have easy access to these powers, even if their titles suggest otherwise.

As we move up the power pyramid, we encounter Expert Power. This level of power is driven by knowledge and expertise. Safety managers who are highly knowledgeable about safety management, risk management and related principles have the confidence and capability to lead their organizations through safety management system implementation and maintenance successfully.

At the pinnacle of the power pyramid is Referent Power. This form of power revolves around charisma and how one relates to others. Charismatic leaders have the ability to influence and inspire their teams to achieve organizational goals. While charisma may not be the primary focus for safety managers, being friendly, approachable and patient can go a long way in building positive relationships and influencing change.

Putting Power Into Perspective

So, what's the key takeaway from this power pyramid? For many safety managers, the powers associated with organizational hierarchy at the pyramid's base may not be readily available. However, this should not discourage you, because you can still be a powerful influencer by concentrating on your expertise and your ability to connect with others.

To become a safety leader, commit to continuous learning and expand your knowledge in safety management. Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices. This expertise will not only boost your confidence but also empower you to guide your organization effectively through the complexities of safety management.

Furthermore, aim to be a positive and approachable presence in your workplace. You don't have to be overly charismatic or put on a facade, but being friendly, understanding and patient can help you build trust and create an environment conducive to positive change.

Being a powerful safety leader doesn't require a fancy title or the ability to enforce punishment. Instead, focus on your knowledge and your ability to connect with others. By doing so, you can wield the power of expertise and relatability to influence change, enhance safety and truly make a difference within your organization.

Remember, knowledge and a positive attitude can be your most potent tools in the world of safety management. Embrace them, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a safety leader who transforms your organization's safety culture for the better.

About Global Aerospace SM4 Aviation Safety Program The Global Aerospace SM4 Safety Program has revolutionized the way insurance specialists help their clients achieve higher levels of operational safety. SM4 was built on the concept of integrating four critical safety components: planning, prevention, response and recovery. Its mission is to help organizations manage risk, enrich training efforts, strengthen safety culture and improve safety management systems.https://sm4.global-aero.com/

Global AerospaceSM4 Aviation Safety Program Media Contact Suzanne Keneally Vice President, Group Head of Communications +1 973-490-8588

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Global Aerospace's SM4 Aviation Safety Program Offers Insights on Understanding Power Within an Organization - GlobeNewswire

I created an AI app in 10 minutes and I might never think about artificial intelligence in the same way again – TechRadar

Pretty much anything we can do with AI today might have seemed like magic just a year ago, but MindStudio's platform for creating custom AI apps in a matter of minutes feels like a new level of alchemy.

The six-month-old free platform, which you can find right now under youai.ai, is a visual studio for building AI workflows, assistants, and AI chatbots. In its short lifespan it's already been used, according to CEO Dimitry Shapiro, to build more than 18,000 apps.

Yes, he called them "apps", and if you're struggling to understand how or why anyone might want to build AI applications, just look at OpenAI's relatively new GPT apps (aka GPTs). These let you lock the powerful GPT-3.5 into topic-based thinking that you can package up, share, and sell. Shapiro, however, noted the limits of OpenAI's approach.

He likened GPTs to "bookmarking a prompt" within the GPT sphere. MindStudio, on the other hand, is generative model-agnostic. The system lets you use multiple models within one app.

If adding more model options sounds complicated, I can assure you it's not. MindStudio is the AI development platform for non-developers.

To get you started, the company provides an easy-to-follow 18-minute video tutorial. The system also helps by offering a healthy collection of templates (many of them business-focused), or you can choose a blank template. I followed the guide to recreate the demo AI app (a blog post generator), and my only criticism is that the video is slightly out of date, with some interface elements having been moved or renamed. There are some prompts to note the changes, but the video could still do with a refresh.

Still, I had no trouble creating that first AI blog generator. The key here is that you can get a lot of the work done through a visual interface that lets you add blocks along a workflow and then click on them to customize, add details, and choose which AI model you want to use (the list includes GPT- 3.5 turbo, PaLM 2, Llama 2, and Gemini Pro). While you don't necessarily have to use a particular model for each task in your app, it might be that, for example, you should be using GPT-3.5 for fast chatbots or that PaLM would be better for math; however, MindStudio cannot, at least yet, recommend which model to use and when.

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The act of adding training data is also simple. I was able to find web pages of information, download the HTML, and upload it to MindStudio (you can upload up to 150 files on a single app). MindStudio uses the information to inform the AI, but will not be cutting and pasting information from any of those pages into your app responses.

Most of MindStudio's clients are in business, and it does hide some more powerful features (embedding on third-party websites) and models (like GPT 4 Turbo) behind a paywall, but anyone can try their hand at building and sharing AI apps (you get a URL for sharing).

Confident in my newly acquired, if limited, knowledge, I set about building an AI app revolving around mobile photography advice. Granted, I used the framework I'd just learned in the AI blog post generator tutorial, but it still went far better than I expected.

One of the nice things about MindStudio is that it allows for as much or as little coding as you're prepared to do. In my case, I had to reference exactly one variable that the model would use to pull the right response.

There are a lot of smart and dead-simple controls that can even teach you something about how models work. MindStudio lets you set, for instance, the 'Temperature' of your model to control the randomness of its responses. The higher the 'temp', the more unique and creative each response. If you like your model verbose, you can drag another slider to set a response size of up to 3,000 characters.

The free service includes unlimited consumer usage and messages, some basic metrics, and the ability to share your AI via a link (as I've done here). Pro users can pay $23 a month for the more powerful models like GPT-4, less MindStudio branding, and, among other things, site embedding. The $99 a-month tier includes all you get with Pro, but adds the ability to charge for access to your AI app, better analytics, API access, full chat transcripts, and enterprise support.

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I can imagine small and medium-sized businesses using MindStudio to build customer engagement and content capture on their sites, and even as a tool for guiding users through their services.

Even at the free level, though, I was surprised at the level of customization MindStorm offers. I could add my own custom icons and art, and even build a landing page.

I wouldn't call my little AI app anything special, but the fact that I could take the germ of an idea and turn it into a bespoke chatbot in 10 minutes is surprising even to me. That I get to choose the right model for each job within an AI app is even better; and that this level of fun and utility is free is the icing on the cake.

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I created an AI app in 10 minutes and I might never think about artificial intelligence in the same way again - TechRadar

A Short History of Pepe the Frog Memes – The Daily Dot

Pepe started his life as a laid-back cartoon frog but memes transformed him into an alt-right villain. The evolution of this cultural phenomenon is emblematic of the relationship between online culture and politics. Lets take a deeper dive into the history of how this frog went from the protagonist of the comic Boys Club, to an online antagonist.

Originally created by Matt Furie in 2005 for the comic Boys Club, Pepe, an anthropomorphic green frog, began his journey as an innocent cartoon character armed with the catchphrase, Feels good, man, that captured the essence of his easy-going nature.

Pepes transition into a meme began around 2008, when his image started gaining traction on platforms like MySpace, Gaia Online, and 4chan. Pepe evolved into various iterations, including Sad Frog, Smug Frog, Angry Pepe, and Feels Frog. Each variant reflected a different emotional state or reaction, making Pepe a versatile character for online expression.

By 2015, Pepe had become a staple on sites like 4chan and Tumblr, with rare Pepes circulating as virtual trading cards.

Stupid realisation and theory about Pepe the Frog and NFTs

However, the characters widespread popularity took a darker turn when Pepe the Frog was co-opted by the alt-right movement in 2015 and 2016.

The metamorphosis of Pepe intoa symbol of hate and bigotrywas alarming and led to itsinclusion in the Anti-Defamation Leagues hate symbol database. However, it was noted that not all Pepe memes were hate-based. This appropriation of Pepe caused distress to creator Matt Furie,who even took legal actionagainst the misuse of his frog cartoon.

In 2019, Pepes image was again appropriated as a symbol of the protests in Hong Kong. Unlike its use as a representation of hate in the United States, Pepes image in Hong Kong was not tied to alt-right ideologies, something Furie openly welcomed.

The reappropriation of Pepes image as a symbol of resistance against an oppressive state showed how the meme continued to be usurped by various online communities, constantly shifting the meaning of this anthropomorphic frog.

As Pepe memes proliferated, the character appeared in various contexts, sometimes even devoid of any political connotation. From Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj tweeting Pepe memes, to Donald Trumps use of a Presidential Pepe, the frog permeated various levels of pop culture and social media. However, some did not consider these newer uses as a full reclamation of the character from its alt-right connotations.

The story of Pepe the Frog is a testament to the ability of the internet to confer new meaning on characters and images. What started as a comic character became a globally recognized meme, a symbol of political movements, and a contentious icon appropriated for hateful causes. But Pepes journey highlights the fluid nature of digital symbols and their ability to embody vastly different meanings to different groups of people.

Pepes evolution also raises questions about the ownership and transformation of digital content in an age where memes can become powerful tools for communication and expression.

While Pepes journey has been tumultuous, it underscores the dynamic nature of internet culture and its impact on society. Pepe remains a potent symbol in the ever-evolving landscape of online expression, embodying the whimsical and controversial aspects of digital communication.

*First Published: Dec 13, 2023, 9:00 am CST

Kahron Spearman is the community manager for the Daily Dot and Nautilus magazine. Hes also a journalist, copywriter, and host of Discovery with Kahron Spearman on KAZI 88.7.

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A Short History of Pepe the Frog Memes - The Daily Dot