Are Language Models the New Calculators?

In the 1970s, calculators were met with skepticism. Teachers feared these devices would make students lazy, undermining their grasp of fundamental math skills. Decades later, calculators are indispensable — not as replacements for understanding but as tools that enable precision and efficiency in science, engineering, and beyond.

AI language models like ChatGPT might follow a similar path. While some caution against overuse, fearing it could hinder critical thinking or dilute originality, these tools also have immense potential. For proficient writers and researchers, AI can accelerate workflows, refine style, and expand depth without replacing the creative process.

I once wrote that “questions are more important than answers”. AI seems to validate this idea. It thrives when we ask the right questions, guiding us to explore deeper insights. But its role isn’t fixed — it’s up to us to shape how these tools serve us.

Perhaps in the future, AI will adapt to individual voices, learning their subtleties. Or users will purposefully introduce imperfections, dodging AI detection to assert their humanity. Either way, the challenge is balance: using AI to complement, not replace, the skills that define us.

How do we maintain that balance? The next prompt we write may be the key.

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