In The Age Of AI, We’re At Risk Of Losing Our Own Voice
By Gracie Gangler, Student Writer
In my opinion lately it feels like everyone is using AI for something whether it’s writing essays, making captions, or planning what to post on TikTok. Apps like ChatGPT and Gemini are super popular, and it’s easy to see why. They’re fast, helpful, and can make your work look really polished. But the thing is, the more we rely on AI to do our thinking and creating, the more we risk losing our own voice and creativity. The more we risk ruining all our “brain power.”
Using AI might seem smart at first since it saves time, gives quick ideas, and helps people who might struggle with writing,and completing their assignments. According to a 2024 study from Common Sense Media, around 30% of teens are using AI to help with school or social media. There's a downside that many people don’t really talk about.
When we let AI do the writing or planning for us, we’re not actually learning how to think for ourselves. Instead of figuring out how to explain an idea, tell a story, or express our real opinions, we just ask AI to do it for us. Over time, that can make everything start to sound the same. The internet is filled with millions of AI generated videos,captions,and I've even seen people make movies. Ai can also be used for bad. Especially if it gets even more advanced. It's already used for inappropriate things,and making fake videos of people who have a big following. You can see how that can be bad for them and the internet in general.
Even worse, it sends the message that being fast and “perfect” is better than being real or thoughtful. But colleges, jobs, and even real friendships aren’t looking for perfectly written captions or AI generated opinions. They’re looking for you and your real thoughts.
That said, I get the other side of the argument. Some people say AI is just a tool, like Google, and that it helps people who might have a harder time writing or coming up with ideas and though that is true, AI can AND is useful when you’re stuck or need a little help. The real problem is when we let it take over completely,not letting you other others feel the need to think and do for themselves.
So, what can we do? How can we fix this issue? I’m not saying to stop using AI completely. But in my opinion we should start thinking of it as more of a helper, not the only answer. We should use it to brainstorm, checkspelling or get inspired but all while adding in your own ideas. Make it your work. Make it your own idea and thoughts.