Writing is an exercise in the art of persuasion. If we use AI, we lose the art | Alan Finkel

A A few weeks ago Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a political scientist at Macquarie University, wrote an opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald reporting on students’ overuse of AI chatbots when writing their essays.

In it, she expressed concern that universities are training lawyers, nurses, financial advisors, engineers and teachers who do not have the essential skills required to carry out their roles. If this is the case, the social consequences are obvious.

Not everyone in the university sector agrees, and the University of Western Sydney’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Quality and Integrity, Prof Cath Ellis, wrote a rebuttal.

However, there was a problem. Ellis’ article itself was written by AI – which was not disclosed to the newspaper. Readers noticed the tell-tale AI phrases, and social media was abuzz with negative comments.

Ellis defended her opinion piece, saying it was written “with” AI, not “by” AI. Of the…