Students Discuss AI's Role in Academic Writing

The use of artificial intelligence in academic settings is a growing topic of discussion, as highlighted by a conversation overheard between two students on a train. One student enthusiastically described AI as a "life-saver," noting its ability to generate entire papers with just a few clicks.

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Yeah bro, AI is really saving my life. Three clicks of a button and boom, whole paper done.

However, the other student raised a common concern: the perceived difficulty and unnatural complexity of AI-generated text. "But I find it difficult that AI often writes too difficultly. They'll never believe I wrote it, of course," they remarked, pointing to the challenge of making AI output sound authentic and personal.

The first student offered a solution, suggesting that AI can be programmed to adopt specific writing personas. "But you can also let AI write like yourself, you know. I always say: write this assignment like an HBO student who is about to graduate... with an IQ of 108," they explained, illustrating how users can tailor AI output to specific academic levels and even personality traits.

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Yeah, but I find it difficult that AI often writes too difficultly. They'll never believe I wrote it, of course.

This brief anecdote, submitted by a reader to NRC Handelsblad, underscores the evolving relationship between students and AI tools. It touches upon the efficiency gains AI offers while also acknowledging the ongoing need for human oversight to ensure authenticity and appropriate tone in academic work.

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But you can also let AI write like yourself, you know. I always say: write this assignment like an HBO student who is about to graduate... with an IQ of 108.