By Zachary Yuan ’27
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries worldwide, students at Andover are exploring how it can impact their futures. The Andover AI Club provides a platform where students from diverse backgrounds can explore the transformative potential of AI through hands-on projects, ethical discussions, and real-world applications. Through their work in the club, Andover students are not only building technical skills but are also examining the broader implications of AI in fields like healthcare, education, creativity, and mental health—preparing to shape a future where AI plays an increasingly central role.
The club’s board members are particularly passionate about AI’s potential to reshape the world. Paige Zhu ’27 has “always been interested in the intersection of technology and healthcare, and AI seemed like the perfect tool to push the boundaries of what’s possible.” Meanwhile, Patrick Xu ’27 is drawn to AI’s impact on daily life and education, saying, “AI is extremely prevalent in our day-to-day lives, and it’s only getting more complicated. I joined the AI club because I have a passion for discovering artificial intelligence and exploring how it can be applied in the modern world.”
AI in the Classroom and Beyond
As AI Club members experiment with these technologies, many are looking towards how AI can reshape the classroom itself. Pragun Seth ’25, drawn to the club by his interest in AI advancements, recognizes its potential in education.
“In terms of education, we all know that ChatGPT is a resource. Whether or not that’s a good thing in the long run, we don’t know…” Seth says. Seth sees AI’s potential to revolutionize assessment methods, adding that “I think a lot more teachers are going to accept the use of AI in classrooms because they’re going to find it harder and harder to not allow it, especially when it’s so prominent in our lives… Teachers can use AI products to help students augment their learning, and AI can conduct tests for students. One easy example is when students are sitting next to each other, teachers can give them different tests that are created through AI, and that way you can ensure that nobody’s cheating.”
On the other hand, Zhu highlighted AI’s potential in science and healthcare. “AI has the potential to revolutionize biomedicine by speeding up research, improving diagnostic tools, and facilitating personalized treatments. For example, AI can help doctors analyze spinal curvature data more efficiently, predict scoliosis progression, and recommend personalized treatment plans. … AI-driven models can also provide real-time feedback to clinicians, ensuring faster responses to changing patient conditions. … In research, AI helps scientists sift through biological data to uncover new avenues for treatments.”
Bridging Creativity and AI
While much of the AI Club focuses on practical applications of AI, they also discuss AI’s influence on creativity. Xu, mentions how AI can be used as a tool for inspiration, particularly in creative projects. He pointed out that AI can serve as an inspiration for ideas, rather than replacing the creative process itself. “Right now, generative AI isn’t advanced enough to fully capture human creativity, but it’s a good starting point.”
Seth takes a different perspective, noting that while AI can enhance the creative process by providing new ideas, students mustn’t rely on AI to replace genuine creativity. “… large language models just rely on a data set and on its training to provide you with an output, which takes away the creative process… That’s something we need to be careful about.”
Both students believe AI has a place in creative work but stress the importance of maintaining human involvement. Xu and Seth’s insights into creativity reveal a nuanced understanding of AI limitations. Seth and Xu’s caution reflects an awareness that students today must learn to strike a balance between using AI to enhance creative projects and preserving their creative instincts. Their stance suggests an understanding that AI’s role in creativity may remain as a supplement rather than a replacement.
AI’s Potential in Mental Health and Well-being
AI Club members have also explored AI’s potential to support mental health and well-being, especially in high-pressure environments like boarding schools. Zhu believes that AI could make medical health care more individualized and responsive, and help identify overall trends in student stress levels.
“Imagine an AI system that tracks your sleep patterns, academic workload, and social engagement, picking up on early signs of stress or burnout before you even realize you’re struggling. Instead of waiting until you’re overwhelmed to visit Sykes, the AI could suggest specific wellness resources, like mindfulness exercises or even a session with a counselor, right when you need them.”
Rather than treating symptoms as they arise, AI tools could play an essential role in managing and preventing mental health issues before they manifest into more serious conditions.
Seth, however, remains cautious against relying on AI in place of genuine human connection. He mentions that while personalized AI products can support individuals, it’s important to connect with others for our well-being.
“There’s a product that’s recently released called Friend, where a little pod that you wear as a necklace, and it talks to you, sends you messages, as if it’s listening to your conversations … Now I think that can really help with your mental health … [but] at the same time, that’s also disrupting the natural flow of human connection. At the end of the day, AI isn’t a real human.”
Seth’s concerns highlight an overlooked aspect of AI in mental health: its potential to disrupt natural social bonds. His skepticism reflects an awareness of the unique value that human relationships bring to mental well-being.
As AI’s role in society expands, so does the importance of education and engagement with technology. AI Club is leading the exploration of these developments, offering students the opportunity to experience and shape how AI will impact the world. The club members’ combined perspectives reflect a balanced view, acknowledging both the remarkable possibilities of AI and the critical responsibility required to use it ethically and thoughtfully.
Read more articles like this in our Fall 2024 Issue!
