GenAI for Work, Homework, and the Parenting Dilemma in the AI Age

I was stepping out after dropping my kids off at their class when I heard someone call my name. I turned around and saw two friends waving at me. It had been a while since I had last met them. We huddled together and exchanged pleasantries. We talked about the different classes our kids take and discussed our work lives. Our conversation then shifted to Generative AI and ChatGPT, and each of us expressed our amazement at ChatGPT. One of my friends mentioned that his eldest child had been using ChatGPT to complete school assignments. He was unhappy that the child relied on ChatGPT for everything and wasn’t thinking critically. His concern was that children are becoming lazy with GenAI and might lose their cognitive abilities by becoming overly dependent on ChatGPT. After a while, we said our goodbyes, and I started back home, still thinking about that conversation. My friend's statement about kids' dependence on ChatGPT kept echoing in my mind.

Should we allow kids to use ChatGPT at all?

Now, this is a tricky question. In my opinion, there is really no right or wrong answer, and I have points to support and counter both sides.

• First, my thoughts on why kids shouldn’t be allowed to use ChatGPT: My friend is right—ChatGPT can make kids lazy. This is the age when they need to learn and grow, developing their cognitive and intellectual abilities. They should acquire skills like time management, researching answers, discerning right from wrong, and applying their knowledge to achieve desired results. All of this comes through effort and focus. If kids rely on ChatGPT for instant answers, they might only learn to copy and paste. Is that what we want for them? What will kids with copy-paste skills do in life? You can’t copy-paste food into your stomach, nor can you live in a copy-paste house.

• But then, why shouldn’t kids use ChatGPT, especially if they are using it to supplement their other knowledge sources? Let’s look back at our high school and college days. Those were the days when computers were gaining prominence, and there was a lot of talk about how we, as kids, were becoming lazy because we depended on computers for everything. The so-called guardians of society called us out for losing our ability to write with a pen since we were more accustomed to typing on a keyboard. We were also blamed for dwindling library attendance because we could search for answers on the internet. Yet, for the most part, we turned out fine. Yes, we may not write as much as our forefathers did, but hey—I rarely use a pen except for signing a document or a check once every few months or years.

 

If you decide to allow kids to use ChatGPT, where do you draw the line? 

I think this is the question that parents should ask. I do not think it is wise as a parent to not allow my kids to use ChatGPT, because learning ChatGPT is also a skill. Who knows maybe there will AI engineers and AI engineering is a top job in the future; just like how we took up computers and software engineering is one of the top jobs now. But it is also important for us parents to ensure our kids are not overly dependent on ChatGPT. ChatGPT cannot be the first and only source of their information. It should be their last source of information and should be used more as a validation of their understanding, knowing very well that LLM’s too can make mistakes.

All this begs the most obvious question. What is that one career track that can survive ChatGPT?

Honestly, I have no idea which jobs are truly safe from AI. Tech magazines and sci-fi movies proclaim AI and robots will eventually replace every well-paying job we have today. According to experts, the only jobs considered safe are those requiring social and interpersonal skills—like caregivers.

So, where does that leave all the kids in school today? I have no clue.

On a lighter note, if there's one job I think AI won’t take over anytime soon, it's that of a temple priest. Temple priests have already proven themselves to be both COVID-proof and recession-proof. From what I know, they are well-paid and have a steady income. Sun or rain, we go to the temple. Whether life is smooth sailing or we’re going through a rough patch, we still go. And let’s be honest—no matter how advanced AI gets, our minds are not trained to bow and fall at a robots feet or accept prasadam from one.

So, if you're looking for an AI-resistant, recession-proof, and well-paying career, temple priesthood might just be the way to go!

~Narendra V Joshi

Beneath the Waves: A Journey to Calm

We went scuba diving during the recent winter break. The underwater experience was incredible. Despite swimming since I was a kid, deep sea diving was a completely unique experience. It felt like an entirely different world. The sharp contrast between the churning waves above and the serene calm below was a powerful metaphor for me. At first, every problem seems daunting and nearly impossible, like those waves. But when you confront each issue directly, you find a peaceful resolution, much like the ocean's depths. 

Put these thoughts into a poem - 

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The boat rocked hard as it cut through the water;
The rough sea hammered in an endless slaughter.
The nice breeze felt cold under the wet suit skin;
Only the anxious eyes screamed of the storm within.

The dive took me to a calm surreal world;
Where silence reigned, the bountiful landscape whirled.
The fishes and the lobsters only added to the gleam;
A realm of mystery within an eternal dream.

The waves and the depths are a metaphor of life.
The rocking waves akin the life's daily strife.
Diving head on into the tranquil depths we find;
Serene waters mirroring a calm clear mind.

~Narendra V Joshi

Only the memories

 To my father... 

I have come to accept, the fact you are gone.
Yet your presence in my heart, stays warm and strong.
In the stillness of my mind, when I feel you near;
I close my eyes and wipe a tear.

I see your smile, I hear your voice,

And those little moments make my heart rejoice.
Though you're no longer with me in sight,
Your memory shines in me, like a beacon in the night.

 I know you're watching from above,

And sending me your endless love.
With me every moment, with me every day,
Deep in my heart, you'll always stay.

~Narendra V Joshi

Where I think we should go from here

I was at a transit airport waiting for my connecting flight the other day. I could see the airport tarmac from the waiting area. The waiting area was crowded as it was almost time to board. The incoming flight had arrived and was waiting on the tarmac to come to our gate. There was something going on at our designated gate and so they had stopped the incoming flight from arriving at the gate. The flight was on the tarmac waiting for an open gate for almost like 15-20 mins.

I noticed the gentleman seated next to me staring at his watch often, and shake his head in despise. He would utter something beneath his breath and clearly looked irritated.

He turned to me pointing to the airplane outside the window and asked, “Do you know how much fuel a plane consumes just standing there on the tarmac?”. I knew it must be something big but had no idea and so shook my head for a ‘No’.  I thought he will say some gallons/minute but all he said was “it’s a loooot of fuel”. “It’s just a waste, you know”. I nodded my head for a ‘Yes’. It was indeed a lot of fuel waste for a large plane to sit and wait.

He continued. “We humans don’t deserve this planet”. “We cut trees, burn fossil fuels and are destroying our environment”. “Animals are going extinct at an astonishing rate”. I joined in and we spoke about how the environment is getting affected. At one point he said “the best thing for this planet is to have all humans go back to forests and live like how stone age people lived. Only then earth has a chance to survive”.

I knew I did not agree with that sentence but before I could say anything there was a gate change announcement. We stopped our conversation right there and we both walked separate ways to the new gate. I did not see him after that.

I came back home that night with his words still baking at the back of my mind.

Should humans go back to living in forests and caves to protect the earth?

Before we answer this question, we must first look at the conditions in which the cave men lived thousands of years back. Cave men lived in caves; in forests; midst nature. Yes, it feels good and maybe even inviting to see those beautiful pictures and videos of nature and animals on TV. The reality however is far from it. Those colorful birds in the videos are not singing a duet. They are on a hunt to tear open an insect and eat it while the insect is still struggling. That insect was not waiting for the bird but rather searching for a worm to bite in into pieces or swallow the worm whole. Nothing out there is rosy. There is a big game of survival being played all the time and this applied to the cave men too. Living in forests and caves is not an easy thing. There is no coffee when you wake up in the morning, no hot biriyani for lunch nor that plush mattress and pillow to sleep on in the night. There are no doctors on call nor police to protect you. The cave men lived in constant fear of wild animals, struggled under weather, died due to diseases as they did not have a cure. Life was tough for humans back then. It was for this reason cave men got together and formed civilizations. They realized different people in the group could create/build/grow different things and sharing helped everyone. This idea helped formed villages and cities and countries we now live in.

So, do we need to leave all this advancement and go back to living in caves? I don’t think so.

If not, then what about that gentleman’s words? If we do not want to go back to living in caves, then how can we protect our earth?

I think the answer to this question lies in understanding where we live and how we can make where we live a better place. We have become so dependent on fossil fuels and plastic; I don’t think we can suddenly stop using them completely. Maybe we should start by making small changes in our daily life. Let’s buy things only when we really need; not because there is a discount. Let’s eat only when we are hungry, and more importantly let’s finish the food on the plate every time and not throw anything. If we can avoid driving and walk instead, let’s try doing that. A quick read about recycling tells a completely different story of what is happening to the products we toss into a recycle bin. Very little, if not negligible, is getting recycled. What we put into recycling too is ending up in landfills. So, see if you can reuse, but the best is to avoid buying in the first place.

I think where we need to go from here is not back to forests and caves. Rather, where we need to go from here is doing our part a little bit; consciously; habitually, to make this earth we live in, a better place.

~Narendra V Joshi

Conflicts in the mind

The houses and trees were covered by a blanket of snow.
The ice beads in the sun made for a glittering show.
Inches of snow had covered everything in sight;
Except for the sky and the sun shining bright.
 
The blanket shrunk as the sun came up.
Draining the sleet from like a broken cup.
The awe and wonder were all but gone;
Laid bare a pickled and a battered lawn.
 
The sun and snow mimic conflicts in the mind
The snow alike the ego and of the malice kind.
Knowledge and humility can erase a burgeoning pride;
Just like the sun shrinking blankets on its ride.

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We had almost 5 inches of snow yesterday. It was a beautiful sight this morning with everything covered by a blanket of snow. The snow started to melt by the afternoon. I drew parallels between how the rising sun melted the snow, to how humility and humbleness in mind can melt ego and pride.    

~Narendra V Joshi

Addition of patience

My younger one is in the virtual school this year. For his classes he sits in the living room where my wife can keep an eye and help him if he needs something. We time our lunch during his afternoon school break so that the family can have lunch together. Today however I was occupied at work and by the time I went to eat, the break was over, and my son’s school had already started. I could hear my son’s teacher as they went on with their regular school schedule.

Having seen my elder one through those years and now seeing my younger one every day, I know teaching small kids is not easy. If you are lucky, they will sit and listen to everything you say. If you are not, they can ask complicated questions or relate something you are saying to something unrelated and take the conversation in a tangential direction. A classroom full of kids can be a different story altogether.

This is how some parts of the class conversation went –

(The teacher was teaching math addition and was explaining how numbers can be added to each other to get a bigger number)

Student 1: Teacher, I want to tell you something.

Teacher: Yes, sweetie; what is it?

Student 1: The grass in our lawn has been growing taller and taller. They are adding up like these numbers.

Teacher: Yes, that happens sweetie. Did you have any question on what we discussed?

 

Another kid raised his hand to catch the attention of the teacher.

Teacher: Yes Student 2. Do you need something honey?

Student 2: Teacher, I want to use the rest room.

Teacher: Sure honey, but please be quick. I don’t want you to miss the lesson

Student 2: But I am not going to pee. I am going for something else.

Teacher: ok, but please try to be quick.

Student 2: I cannot be quick. I will need some time.

Teacher: Sure honey…

 

Every now and then one of the kids would say something unrelated to the math class and the teacher had to sweet talk the kids focus back to the class. I wondered what I would have done if I was a kindergarten/elementary school teacher. Would I have run away the first day?

As I thought, I felt, maybe most of us are like that schoolteacher in some way. We too face incomprehensible questions and ridiculous requirements from our team members, managers and customers at work. Yet we always answer with courtesy and treat work situations with upmost dignity. 

As my thoughts flowed, it suddenly struck me; I realized there was a problem. We treat random people at work, on streets, in restaurants, in movie halls; whom we may never even see in our life again, with courtesy and patience; but forget to apply that same courtesy and patience to our own family members without whom there is little meaning to our lives. We often seem to take our family for granted. We patiently spend hours repeating the same answer to our customers and office colleagues but snap the minute a family member repeats the question.

It took a while for me to finish the last few spoons. I was shaken, but I knew it was time for me to learn from this addition lesson and add a few things to my life. I have to put an effort to bring all that courtesy and patience I use in my work life, to home. The methodology is all there, and time tested. If my kids ask the same question repeatedly, I need to answer them as how I would answer an office colleague or a customer who is asking the same question repeatedly. Such an easy thing; yet it needed me to listen through an elementary math class to put it together.

~Narendra V Joshi

A Teacher I Never Knew

 
It has been a year since the virus first struck;
Grasping its victims within its viscous muck.
Hope now has rekindled, yet the journey is hard;
For the pandemic has left us permanently scarred.
 
Glimmers of light amidst the scars have shown;
The virus is a teacher the world had never known.
Blossoming simplicity and kindness in the people’s hearts.
Bringing families together by fits and starts.
 
It was never for the virus to help humans from falling as a divided kind.
For it was our ego that has clouded our intelligent mind.
Yet as we stand holding onto to an unlikely helping hand;
It’s ours alone to act as per the righteous demand.

 

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The announcement of vaccine raises hope about end of the Covid pandemic. Midst the havoc the Covid virus has brought, I think the lockdowns in a way has helped bring out the best in us. The virus has brought out kindness and shown us the path to a simple living. Above all, the virus has helped connect families and communities, and has thought us to share and care for each other. In some sense, the virus turned out to be a teacher I never knew.

 

~Narendra V Joshi