ChatGPT launched last November and has quickly taken classrooms by storm with its power to imitate a human style of writing using billions of text samples across the Internet.

The program allows users to type in a task or question, which the software will complete or answer.

Portage la Prairie School Division Superintendent Todd Cuddington says that students having the ability to produce work that is not authentic or their own comes with implications.

"When a student submits a piece of work, teachers are generally aware of what their writing level is like. Not unlike years in the past when you could pay to have an essay written or downloading something off the Internet, teachers are able to determine what the student is capable of, and they can often identify that work."

File Photo.Portage la Prairie School Division superintendent Todd Cuddington.

Cuddington explains that now more than ever, education is moving toward students producing work in the classroom over a few days instead of having an opportunity to use ChatGPT.

"I don't think that the approach that a lot of educators are taking this as a sky is falling type of situation. They see it as a natural evolution of technology and AI," he continues. "We know that this is going to have a massive impact on the way we teach, but the teachers are always adapting to those changes, and it won't be anything different with this new technology."

The Superintendent says the school division will be looking to harness the benefits of the ever-changing technological landscape and how it can be used positively.

"There may be opportunities where students could do something to compare their own work to something generated by AI, then to critique one's own work versus what is done through ChatGPT."

Cuddington notes that the software will never be used as an alternative to creating something individually.