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Ali Hammoud's avatar

The first thing I want to say is that you have a distinct writing style that is thoroughly enjoyable to read. The second is that everything you said resonated deeply: there is something seriously wrong with how we interact with technology. I've spent the past few weeks marking 100+ undergrad essays, and the prevalence of AI-generated essays was mind-blowing (and incredibly deflating as an educator).

But the problem goes beyond tertiary education, or education in schools for that matter. And I don't know what the solution is.

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Zahra Hassan's avatar

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. I understand the devastation of that - and I wish I knew, truly

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Mariam Khalil's avatar

It’s sad in this setting for sure, however I think she also wrote the solution briefly here - The intelligent user will, on the contrary, master it in a way that still honors and perhaps even enhances their natural intellect.

Ai can save 100s of hours on tasks that would have taken us months, it can do in seconds, like extracting key research ideas across 100s of articles or compiling notes, writing code etc. I think there’s beauty in that efficient level of research, I just think we have to be selective how we use it. Not as a replacement for our brain or our authentic writing voice, but as a tool as we do the Internet allowing us to compile Islamic courses and historical books when we literally had to “travel to China” to get them before.

Alhamdulilah I think convenience does have its place, and I’m grateful personally for that blessing, we just need to draw disciplined lines for ourselves where to use it responsibly 🙏 and connect to nature, slowness, Allah and our fitrah, continuously and often.

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Zahra Hassan's avatar

very true - everything in moderation - we always have the choice to use things responsibly, it’s one of the tests of our time

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Ali Hammoud's avatar

You're right - mastering it is the key, and using it efficiently can save us heaps of time. But it is easier said than done.

My main concern though, is the use of AI in education. There's a world of difference between somebody who has acquired an education and the ability to think critically and independently who then uses AI as a supplement, as opposed to someone who is reliant on AI for critical thinking from their formative years. We are rapidly heading down the latter path in education.

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Mariam Khalil's avatar

Yes with this point specifically - I agree! AI should definitely not be used to replace our ability to think critically! I think these things shouldn’t be accessible to students and the like, maybe in the future making it behind a paywall or having strong AI essay detectors, and an automatic fail (similar to plagiarism), I’m not sure about the solution when it comes to school. I also heard on the news about things like nudeAI being used to compromise people, and I think things like that have no beneficial social use and should be IP banned on a state level (just like Texas banned 🌽 hub, etc). So curious to see how the world will put limits on new AI developments or will we actually let it “take over” out of sheer excitement for just having new tech.

Also remember for Muslims, is that we will be accountable how we use every minute of our time, and every tool, including Ai - Allah knows. So hold that responsibility with the weight it carries 🙏

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Ali Hammoud's avatar

Well said, and really your last line sums it up. Inshallah we can carry out our responsibility correctly 🙏

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Mariam Khalil's avatar

JazakAllah Khair, Ameen ya Rab 🤲

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Fatima Mehdi's avatar

Lovely piece. I think about this often and also feel the resistance/ reluctance to accept this version of reality. It’s important to hold on to what is sacred and protect the sanctity of art as a living, breathing expression of the soul and resist attempts to normalize where possible!

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Zahra Hassan's avatar

thank you tema i appreciate it 🤍 absolutely - otherwise it’s only us who loses in the end!

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Mobin I.'s avatar

That first line is a quotable. Beautiful piece!

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Zahra Hassan's avatar

Thanks so much Mobin!

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