One question, a few seconds, and there it is: a structured answer, three arguments and a conclusion. Sometimes even a compliment on how insightful your question was. What’s not to like?
ChatGPT, Claude and similar tools rely on LLMs — Large Language Models. AI is the broader family; LLMs are part of it. They can help us understand, write and work. I happily use them myself. But a well-written answer can be wrong. And getting a polished piece of writing does not mean you have learnt anything.
A few kilometres from where we live, Ferney bears Voltaire’s name. This philosopher challenged prejudice and fanaticism by questioning the ideas and authorities of his time. Let’s keep that habit: examine what we are told is true, even when it comes with impressive confidence.
1. Clarify your question before asking for an answer
“Prepare a presentation about luxury.”
To explain what? To which audience? In how many minutes? And what instructions has your teacher given you?
The tool can answer a vague request. That does not mean it will give you what you need.
Before asking, write down what you already know, what you still need to understand and your initial thoughts. Sketch an outline. You will then have something to compare with its suggestion.
You can also ask: “Help me clarify the questions I need to address before suggesting an outline.”
2. Check the answer, even when you like it
We all know someone who speaks so confidently that we hesitate to challenge them. ChatGPT can have the same effect, with beautifully neat formatting thrown in.
Yet it can invent a statistic, a reference or even a quote. Before using information, open the source and check what it actually says. Asking “Are you sure?” is not enough.
And if a quote from Voltaire fits your argument perfectly, check it. He wrote quite enough already. No need to add your homework to his collected works.
Watch out for your own desire to be right, too. Ask the tool what might challenge your idea, then examine those objections just as carefully.
3. Understand and take ownership of the work you submit
Before delegating a task, you need to know how to do it well enough to judge the result. How can you assess an outline if you don’t know how to build one?
You are students: learning is precisely why you are here. Use ChatGPT to understand a method and practise. Then try it yourself, even if your first attempt is less impressive.
Last year, a student presented an internship report she had produced with ChatGPT. It was superb. Then came the oral presentation… Apparently, she hadn’t even read it.
The report had plenty to say. Its author, rather less.
Taking ownership of a piece of work means understanding it, checking it and reworking it using your own observations. Close the screen. Explain it in your own words. Give an example from your internship. If you get stuck, go back and work on that point.
Follow your teacher’s rules on using AI. And before submitting your work, ask yourself: if someone says “Explain this to me”, am I ready?