Should You Use AI for a Task? Here’s a Simple Way to Decide

A professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Toronto notes that students often use AI to complete writing assignments, which is seen as a waste of their tuition money. The professor is torn between discouraging this practice and preparing students for a future where AI writing assistants are likely to be prevalent. An AI researcher's analogy is used to frame the dilemma, comparing it to the difference between work and the gym. This analogy is presented as a helpful way to decide when to use AI for a task. The professor teaches public policy and has observed the regular use of AI by students in their writing assignments. The use of AI in this context raises questions about its appropriate role in education and professional development.