Out of the Mouth of ChatGPT

Probably, AI cannot predict the future: but it is naive, honest, and unbiased, a scarce commodity these days

Psalms 8:2: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies that thou mightest still the enemy and avenger.

In the past, our Vice Supreme Leader was successfully replaced by an AI, courtesy of our Computer Science students. It was so successful that no one noticed for two whole years!

However, these were the ancient times, pre-ChatGPT, the know-all do-all deep AI interface. We asked ourselves - can ChatGPT predict the future of higher education?

Unless tampered with, AI brains are naive, objective, and unbiased. One can’t wish for a better oracle. Our field correspondent, Madame Defarge, recently engaged in a conversation with ChatGPT, with a single idea to try to foresee where academia is going to. An unabridged transcript (not fake) of this dialog can be found below. It turns out that the Flickering Beacon is not alone in conjecturing that in addition to the obvious pros, there exist some cons the building of an instant university may expose.

Madame Defarge: What would happen if universities abolished all admission criteria and admitted everyone, free of charge?

ChatGPT: If universities abolished all admission criteria and admitted everyone, free of charge, it is likely that the universities would experience a significant increase in enrollment. Without any admission criteria, more people would be eligible to attend the university, and the lack of fees would make it more affordable for many students.

However, this increase in enrollment would also present challenges for the universities. With more students, the universities would need to provide additional resources and support to accommodate the larger student body. This could include hiring more faculty and staff, increasing classroom and laboratory space, and providing additional support services such as tutoring and counseling.

Additionally, the lack of admission criteria could lead to a decrease in the quality of the student body. Without any standards for admission, the universities would not be able to ensure that the students have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their programs. This could lead to a lower quality of education and a lower graduation rate.

Overall, if universities abolished all admission criteria and admitted everyone, free of charge, it is likely that they would experience both positive and negative effects. While there would be an increase in enrollment, the universities would also face challenges in providing resources and support for a larger student body, and the quality of the education could be affected.

MD: Well, they could solve the graduation rate problem by just giving everyone all "A"s.  What would happen then?

ChatGPT: If universities were to give everyone all "A"s, it is likely that the value and credibility of the degrees awarded by the universities would be greatly diminished. Employers and other institutions would no longer view a degree from the university as a reliable indicator of the student's knowledge and abilities, and the degree would hold little value in the job market.

Additionally, the lack of academic rigor and standards in the university's programs would likely lead to a decrease in the quality of education provided by the university. Students would not be challenged or motivated to learn, and they would not develop the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in their careers.

Furthermore, the lack of grading standards could also lead to a decrease in the quality of the student body. Students would no longer have any incentive to excel academically, and the university would not be able to differentiate between high-performing and low-performing students. This could lead to a lower quality of education and a lower graduation rate.

Overall, if universities were to give everyone all "A"s, it would have negative consequences for the value of the university's degrees, the quality of education provided, and the overall reputation of the university.

Wait for Provost Borg-Hügel to cancel ChatGPT. After all, with all its limitations, it is still way smarter than him.

For this article, the lion share of the credit goes to our field correspondent, Madame Defarge.