A student uses TerrierGPT, a BU-developed AI platform that provides students with free access to premium generative AI models. BU aims to teach its students how to use AI responsibly, rather than restricting its use overall. (DANIEL GARBER/ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR)
The debate over artificial intelligence has intensified in recent weeks, as tech leaders and members of Congress have raised safety concerns and called to slow its development. At Boston University, students and faculty are having their own conversations about AI — less about federal regulation and more about self-regulation.
BU plans to teach its students digital responsibility, BU spokesperson Jill Jess wrote in a statement to The Daily Free Press. The University takes a “critical embrace” of AI — recognizing its values while understanding its weaknesses, Jess wrote.
The University focuses on building AI literacy through initiatives like the AI at BU Student Certificate and the Artificial Intelligence Development Accelerator, which helped launch the University’s own AI platform, TerrierGPT.
This fall, BU’s Questrom School of Business introduced an online Master of Science in AI in business, the newest of several AI-related majors the University offers.
“Rather than trying to restrict the use of AI, BU is focused on helping students, faculty and staff understand how to use it responsibly, ethically, and effectively,” Jess wrote.
Dillon O’Hair – Class of 2030 | Chemistry
Dillon O’Hair, a freshman studying chemistry, said he uses AI solely to check his math.
“I don’t use it to brainstorm, but to edit things … basically just to grade things, not to generate ideas,” he said.
O’Hair said he thinks the way some people are using AI is “lazy” and “just out of hand.”
Lizzie Meden – Class of 2030 | Film and TV
Lizzie Meden, a freshman studying film and TV, said she does not use AI for academic purposes, but sometimes uses it for simple searches.
She said there are “certain times and places” where it is alright to use AI but people should not use it “as a crutch.”
She said she thinks it’s an issue for people, especially elementary school-aged kids, to have AI “at their fingertips” when learning fundamental skills.
Beyond early education, she said she is concerned by people who are pursuing careers in medicine and frequently use AI.
“I would never let you be my nurse,” Meden said.
Mariana Barbosa – Class of 2030 | Advertising
Mariana Barbosa, a freshman studying advertising said she isn’t convinced it’s even possible to rein AI in.
“It’s inevitable,” she said. “You have to keep up with the technologies in the world. If you try to stop them right now, people will still learn how to use them.”
Pamela Salazar – Class of 2030 | Mechanical Engineering
Pamela Salazar, a freshman studying mechanical engineering, said she uses AI primarily as a study tool.
“I put in what we’re talking about [in lectures],” she said. “ChatGPT actually teaches me the lesson in a much quicker way.”
Despite this, she said she views AI as potentially being very dangerous, and she worries about the amount of information it can access and its image-generation capabilities.
Emilia Gogrichiani – Class of 2028 | Economics and Data Science
Emilia Gogrichiani, a junior majoring in economics with a minor in data science, said she uses AI for all kinds of everyday activities.
“I use it for homework, I use it for my work assignments, I use it for schedule building, for building study guides,” Gogrichiani said. “I use it for planning out my days, budgeting, finances.”
If it’s being relied on to do everything for a person, she said, then they’re doing the wrong thing. Although she uses it frequently, she would be able to “work around it” if it disappeared one day.
