AI has become an inescapable part of daily life. Whether you use it or not, AI is featured on the news and brought up in discussion regularly. AI affects everyone in an individual way.
Solon High School Sophomore Aimen Zehra uses AI regularly.
“I use it 10-15 times a week, for studying mainly.”
Speaking to residents in the Solon community, from all age groups, the impact of AI is evident.
“I use AI twice a week for maintenance–housework, repairs, etc,” said 75-year-old Solon resident Corliss Norflett.
The difference in AI usage between these two demographics is noticeable as younger individuals have a higher propensity to use AI than elderly ones. AI can be helpful for both age groups but older Americans are more weary of AI.
It is a fear that students will predominantly use AI to cheat. This fear may be founded in some truth as AI is faster and more efficient than human beings.
Students find that AI can be helpful with understanding concepts that teachers do not specifically touch on well.
“It helped me understand concepts at school when teachers don’t help,” Zehra said.
Sophomore Niah Johnson feels that AI is helpful in subject areas that take more time.
“AI is extremely useful when studying for chemistry and English, two subjects that take a lot of time, ” she said. “AI helps me balance [Music in Motion] and my extracurriculars which helps me study faster and allows me to have time for music.”
Justin Jackson, a 28-year-old Solon resident, says AI helps him at work, currently he works as a customer service representative.
“At work, AI is built into our program,” Jackson said. “It allows for us to field queries and questions easier to find answers and clarity for customers.”
Norflett believes that AI can be helpful for quicker answers, where an employee may not be able to help out.
“I find it helpful dealing with something that is important to me and an issue that people with less qualifications could figure out,” Norflett said.
But, AI isn’t all glitters and rainbows.
“I’m worried about the environmental consequences of AI,” Zehra said. “But, more importantly, how people are relying on AI to the point of thinking for them and making decisions for them.”
This concern for the environment is widely shared. AI has been found to increase energy prices for consumers, and use up massive amounts of water. The concerns about AI aren’t shared by everyone though.
“The advantages of AI, increased efficiency, automation of tasks and an elimination of human error, outweigh the negatives of it… everything has drawbacks,” Norflett said.
Older generations are finding it helpful with their daily lives which are increasingly difficult due to their age and other factors, but concerns about AI and its uses differ between groups of people, as noticeable with younger individuals cognizant about environmental issues with AI.
“AI should be used as it is beneficial for most Americans, but AI data centers should be powered by clean energy to lessen the environmental impacts of it,” Jackson said.
Jackson acknowledged that AI will increasingly become important in daily life but also the energy problems associated with it must be addressed.
“AI’s environmental impact is large, and will grow as we use it more, which I do think that there needs to be laws introduced by states and the country at large to make sure AI doesn’t worsen climate change,”Johnson said.
Though not concerned with the environment, Norflett believes rules on AI are needed.
“Regulations should be placed on AI now to prevent it from taking over and having a more outsized role in the world,” Norflett said.
Zehra also worries about the future.
“I think the current models of AI are fine but limitations aren’t necessary,” Zehra said. “In the future, it may be a problem if AI becomes adjacent to a human and humans aren’t able to think without consulting AI.”
