On Cheating and ChatGPT

n.b - I first published this in December 2022. My thoughts on generative AI, especially Chat GPT, have changed significantly since. I left this in the original to illustrate the evolution of thinking among many high school history teachers. You can check out my updated thoughts HERE (January 2023).

Okay. What in the hell is ChatGPT? It’s a chatbot launched by the San Francisco firm OpenAI (artificial intelligence) in November 2022. It seems that a student using this chatbot can enter a prompt or inquiry and get a response, according to a wiki entry, “across many domains of knowledge.” And from what I understand, students are using this bot to “write” essays.

Last week my school had an assembly where we discussed the virtues and pitfalls of of this “tool” - full transparency: 15 minutes before the assembly I had never heard of ChatGPT. And I will also admit that it is possible I have yet to understand the full potential of such a thing. But here are my initial thoughts when it comes to using ChatGPT to write history essays:

It’s cheating.

Called me old fashioned, but I think of artificial intelligence as something of an oxymoron. Intelligence is more than acquiring knowledge and possessing the ability to apply said knowledge. It also requires abstract thought, reason, the ability to think critically and understand nuance and context. I get that technology is helpful - a real godsend too. I like to think about how I conducted research back in the dark ages before everything was accessible on the Internet. Yes…I had to TRAVEL to archives, get funding to pay for airfare, hotels, archive access, copies, and all the rest. Now many, many historical documents are digitized and available online. I wrote my most recent scholarly piece, for Gary Gallagher and Stephen Cushman’s Civil War Witnesses and Their Books, without ever leaving my study. So yeah, technology has made my life easier. But still, I find it hard to believe that “artificial intelligence” can create anything that goes beyond mimicking the thought process.

When I first found out about ChatGPT my gut told me that it would produce mediocre historical writing, at best.

I thought I would put my gut feeling to the test. So I tried it out with a few of my own prompts - here’s one:

What are the three central components of American Exceptionalism (as discussed in class) and how did each inform American identity in the first half of the 19th century? How does slavery factor into different Americans' understanding of exceptionalism? 

Here is what ChatGPT cranked out in about 15 seconds:

American exceptionalism refers to the idea that the United States is a unique nation with a special mission and role in the world. It is often associated with the belief that the United States is a beacon of freedom and democracy, and that its history and values set it apart from other nations.

There are many different interpretations of what constitutes the "central components" of American exceptionalism, and different scholars and political figures may emphasize different aspects. However, some common elements that have been identified as central to American exceptionalism include:

Democracy: The United States is often seen as a model for democracy, with a system of government that is based on the principles of representative democracy and the rule of law. This has been a key element of American identity since the country's founding, and has been central to the American narrative of being a "shining city on a hill" that serves as an example for the rest of the world.

Individualism: The United States is also often seen as a nation that values individualism and personal freedom. This idea is closely tied to the belief in democracy, as it is believed that individuals should be able to make their own choices and decisions without interference from the government. This individualism has been seen as a key element of American identity, and has been used to justify the country's emphasis on individual rights and freedoms.

Exceptionalism: Finally, American exceptionalism is often seen as being closely tied to the idea that the United States has a special mission or role in the world. This has often been justified by reference to the country's history and values, and has been used to justify American intervention in foreign affairs and the belief that the United States has a responsibility to promote democracy and freedom around the world.

Slavery was a significant factor in the development of American exceptionalism, as it played a central role in shaping the country's history and identity. During the first half of the 19th century, the issue of slavery was deeply divisive, with many Americans (particularly in the North) viewing it as a moral evil that needed to be abolished, while others (particularly in the South) saw it as a necessary part of the economy and a fundamental right. The debate over slavery was a key factor in the development of American exceptionalism, as it shaped the way that different Americans understood the country's history and values.

The program gave me the chance to “regenerate” the response and I got this:

American exceptionalism refers to the belief that the United States is a unique and superior nation with a special mission to spread its values and way of life to other countries. There are a few different components of American exceptionalism that are often discussed:

Democracy: The United States was founded on the principles of democracy, with a system of government that is based on the consent of the governed and the protection of individual rights. This belief in democracy has played a central role in American identity and has been used to justify American intervention in other countries in the name of spreading democracy.

Individualism: The United States has also been characterized by a strong emphasis on individualism, which emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and self-reliance. This individualistic ideology has been a key part of American identity and has helped to shape the country's economic and social policies.

Capitalism: The United States has also been a leader in the development and spread of capitalism, which is an economic system based on private ownership and free market competition. This focus on capitalism has helped to drive American economic growth and has been a central part of the country's identity.

Slavery has played a complex role in the understanding of American exceptionalism. While many Americans have argued that the country's commitment to democracy and individual rights makes it exceptional, the existence of slavery and the mistreatment of African Americans has been used by critics to argue that the United States has fallen short of its ideals. Some have argued that the country's founding ideals, including the Declaration of Independence's statement that "all men are created equal," are incompatible with the institution of slavery. Others have pointed out that the United States was founded on land that was taken from Native Americans, and that the country's expansion westward involved the conquest and exploitation of other peoples and cultures, which also calls into question the notion of American exceptionalism.

I waited a couple of days and tried again:

American exceptionalism refers to the belief that the United States is a unique and exceptional nation, with a special role to play in the world. There are many different ways in which this belief has been understood and articulated, but some common themes that have been identified include:

Individualism: The idea that Americans are individualistic and self-reliant, and that this is a key part of the American character. This belief has often been tied to the idea that the United States is a "land of opportunity," where anyone can succeed if they work hard enough.

Democracy: The belief that the United States is a democratic nation, where the people have a say in their own governance. This belief has often been tied to the idea of the "consent of the governed," and to the idea that the United States is a beacon of freedom and liberty to the rest of the world.

Manifest Destiny: The belief that the United States has a special mission or destiny to expand its territory and influence, often justified in terms of a belief in the superiority of American values and institutions.

In the first half of the 19th century, these themes were often invoked in discussions about American identity and the role of the United States in the world. Individualism and democracy were seen as key elements of the American character, and manifest destiny was often used to justify the expansion of American territory and the acquisition of new lands.

Slavery was a complex and controversial issue in the United States during this time period, and it played a significant role in shaping the meaning and significance of American exceptionalism. For some Americans, especially those who opposed slavery, the belief in American exceptionalism was tied to the idea that the United States was a beacon of freedom and liberty, and that slavery was incompatible with these values. For others, however, the belief in American exceptionalism was used to justify the institution of slavery, and to argue that the United States was a unique and exceptional nation precisely because it was able to sustain such a large and economically important institution.

Hmmmm - there are some real red flags here. For starters - if multiple students turned in these differently worded essays, I would note right away that the tone and cadence of each is nearly identical...cause for concern. But beyond that, while using workable definitions, each essay leaves out something absolutely crucial that we discussed in class (see instructions): the exceptionalist (indeed messianic) idea, embraced nationwide in the nineteenth century, that Divine Providence guided the American experiment and offered the promise of deliverance for all those seeking it. And none really deal at all, in any sophisticated way, with American identity.

Also, the responses skirt the differing visions of exceptionalism in relation to the institution of slavery without fully explaining racial assumptions and the foundations of liberty - a highlight of our class discussion on the topic. Rather, the focus leans more toward how the ideals embedded in exceptionalist principles fell short when it came down to the realities of life for marginalized people in America. Fair enough, but none of the essays discuss how a great many people might have found that surprising. Keep in mind, for example, that many (even in the North) did not see a contradiction here in need of justification.

While we debated all of this in class, there is little here alluding to conflicting interpretations, historical contexts, and varying points of view beyond simplistic binaries. In my classes it is imperative that we discuss and understand historical events and themes on historical actors’ terms - not ours. It is equally important that we weigh in on multiple perspectives to account for historical change over time. These essays might look okay at first blush, but not one really addresses the heart of the prompt, not one explores nuance in historical contexts, and not one uses any evidence that we discussed thoroughly in class.

Red Flags.

At the end of the day - here is my policy. If you use ChatGPT to write essays you are cheating. Why, because you didn’t write anything. You didn’t do any of the work. You put your name on something that a bot cobbled together from the Internet.

Friends, there are no shortcuts. As tempting as it might be to try and fudge your way though an essay by using this bot (or one like it…) please do yourself a favor and do the work on your own. Personally, I would much rather see someone really struggle with a concept but give it their earnest best effort than have a machine crank out mediocre text with no real analysis. And teachers - it would also help to write engaging question that require the use of evidence and critical analysis.

I am for sure happy to discuss…especially if you see any virtues of a chatbot.

With compliments,

Keith

PS - I have all of my students include an honor pledge on every assignment (similar to the one I used at UVA) confirming that they had not received unauthorized help on the assignment. I’ve just updated my written course policies to make sure they know this includes chatbots.