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True or false: The deadline for this article snuck up on me and I thought, “Hmmm, maybe ChatGPT can write it for me?” It probably wouldn’t be ethical to let ChatGPT — a type of Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI — write all of my articles, but given my assignment (to talk to parents about the uses of ChatGPT) it could be considered appropriate, possibly even a creative approach at problem solving.

With this in mind, I created my first ChatGPT account and plugged in the following question. “How can students use ChatGPT for homework?” It took about five seconds for my answer to generate, and folks, if this were a school assignment, I would have gotten an A. All the bases were covered. There were bullet points, as well as a thorough assessment of both the positive and negative uses for homework. It even ended with a restatement of my original question.

So, what is ChatGPT?

Basically, this is an artificial intelligence tool designed to understand and generate humanlike text, based on what the user puts in as a query. When I read that definition, the first thing that came to mind was Ask Jeeves.

In 1997, two software designers out of Berkeley created a website that was designed for people to ask questions without having to phrase them in search terms. I can distinctly remember getting together with friends at sleepovers to ask Jeeves questions and then laugh at his precise answers to things like “Do elves poop?” Ask Jeeves gave way to the search engine and soon we were spending our class time learning how to evaluate credible sources on the internet. One of the first things we all had to learn was that researching a topic on the internet is good, but copying someone else’s work word-for-word is plagiarism.

ChatGPT, like the internet in 1997, is a new tool students can use to enhance the learning process. It can and will be used inappropriately, but that doesn’t make it less valuable. Think about the calculator. We teach our kids how to add, subtract and multiply without the use of a calculator because they need to develop baseline math skills on their own. However, we require kids to use calculators as they progress to higher levels of math, because the calculator allows them to work through challenging equations in an efficient way. According to ChatGPT itself, here is how your child can use it as a tool to assist with homework:

• Research assistance. Your child can use ChatGPT like a well-vetted search engine. For example, they could put in the topic of a persuasive essay, then use the concepts produced by ChatGPT as search terms to help them dig deeper and with greater accuracy.

• Planning and organizing. This tool can create an outline to serve as a road map for an essay assignment, history or science project. Your child can then take the AI-generated outline and add in the unique requirements established by their teacher.

• Simplifying a difficult concept. If the reading material is going over your child’s head, or the explanations they are getting in the classroom just aren’t cutting it, students can ask ChatGPT to explain the concept in simpler terms or ask it to reframe the concept. This is an awesome way to make homework relatable despite varying levels of understanding.

That last one got me thinking. I have never had any interest in soccer. Could ChatGPT frame soccer in a way that appeals to someone like me?

Query: Can you explain soccer to someone who loves romantic comedies?

Answer: Imagine soccer as a thrilling love story played out on a vibrant, green stage. The main characters are the players, each with their unique personalities and skills, forming a cast that works together to create a beautiful performance.

The response goes on to break the sport down into a variety of romantic comparisons, including heartfelt celebrations, team chemistry and unpredictable plot twists. Imagine if CliffsNotes could have done that in 1997? Our essays on Hamlet would have been a lot more interesting and we might even remember the plot today. ChatGPT is new, it’s free, and our kids are going to use it to do their homework. Is it cheating? It doesn’t have to be. Not if we show our kids that, like the calculator and the internet, ChatGPT is a tool that enhances thinking, not a trick for avoiding it.