As a human, mother, designer, student of history and believer in tech that is indistinguishable from magic, I am concerned about recent news that organizations such as JPMorgan Chase, Verizon, Accenture and the NYC Public Schools have banned the use of assistive technologies e.g.ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence tool. While it is understandable that organizations may have concerns regarding the compliance of using third-party software in addition to ethical implications of using such technology, I believe it is important to consider the potential negative impacts of these bans on workers, students, and society as a whole.

I believe that the acceleration of bans is creating an "intelligence" divide we cannot recover from. Continuing to ban generative AI tools, not only limits progress and stifles innovation, but we are also creating a divide between those who have the foundational knowledge to write prompts for stellar AI output and those who do not. This could ultimately lead to a class of individuals who lose their jobs to those who have been mentored in the use of generative AI across every sector of our economy.

Banning the use of ChatGPT can be compared to previous bans on calculators and spreadsheets. These tools were once deemed as a threat to learning and were initially banned in classrooms. However, it soon became clear that these tools actually helped students better understand and apply mathematical concepts, ultimately leading to greater success in STEM fields.

Similarly, ChatGPT, Slides.ai, Notion.ai or Scholarcy.com can help workers improve productivity and efficiency while also helping students enhance their writing and research skills. By denying access to this technology, we risk creating an intelligence divide between those who are able to utilize these tools and those who are not.

As we continue to invest in STEM education and prepare the next generation for the workforce, we must also teach them to effectively use the outputs of STEM and STEAMD, including AI tools such as Generative Ai, Transformers, Ai Accelerators and Large Language Models tools. Banning these tools without a thorough consideration of the potential benefits and drawbacks hinder progress and stifle better inventions to incredibly complex human problems on a wilding planet.

It is important to approach the use of AI and other emerging technologies with a balanced and thoughtful perspective. We can and must address compliance and ethical concerns while also finding ways to harness the power of these tools for the betterment of workers, students, and society as a whole. Let's continue to strive towards progress and embrace the potential of AI to advance our world.