AI is a big part of our lives, from classrooms to social media and as it spreads through America, it changes how we learn, think, and connect with the real world. Nowadays, students lean on AI tools to help them write and study, while social media platforms use AI to control what we see and share.

According to Education Week, “Schools’ Embrace of AI Connected to Increased Risks, “86% of students and 85% of teachers are using AI in the 2024-25 school year.” Teachers use AI tools to assist them in grading their students’ work and to help develop the curriculum. They worry about their students’ critical thinking and research abilities due to the growth of AI in classrooms. As Mrs. Fiore, an English teacher here at Cathedral Catholic shares, “This tool makes it difficult to allow students to work on assignments such as writing at home or even in class without supervision.”

AI can also be a helpful source if students use it responsibly. Mrs. Fiore explains that AI can be beneficial if you have questions about reading to understand complex texts. Users can also ask AI for information on cultures, time periods, and authors’ background.

As AI is spread through classrooms, it is also taking over social media. Social media platforms control what we are watching and sharing with the help of AI. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have used AI to learn your interests and recommend videos or photos that keep you on the app. AI helps people translate posts, which helps accessibility across TikTok and YouTube.

AI systems also detect hateful or harmful content to keep platforms more safe. They detect harmful content by analyzing images, videos, and text, like detecting comments that are violent before they spread. These systems that social media platforms provide create a safer environment for users.

AI clearly has a growing impact on from the classrooms to social media. It comes with challenges that we need to be aware of. As it keeps spreading throughout America, we should be using it responsibly and ethically.