When we go for an interview, we will no doubt appear in jacket and tie (for the men) or skirt and blouse (for the women) — the impression that we want to give, and may perhaps be received, is that this man or woman is smart! By that, we mean we consider ourselves to be smart because we are well-dressed (meaning appropriately dressed) and we are clever or intuitive or just plain worldly-wise in dressing in such a way. Smart thinking! We want to show from the outset that we are smart.
Let us consider for a moment, (seeing that we are all smart in reading this!), the first question in this article (though it is not an interview): is this article produced by AI? Has this writer actually typed in the instruction to produce an education article of between 750 and 850 words on being smart in the style, humour (really?) and thinking of the person going by the name of Tim Middleton who has written (allegedly) over 400 articles for this newspaper previously? Or is it indeed entirely the work of the same Tim Middleton, in person? How do we know? Are we smart enough to know?
Smart phones are all the ‘thing’; everyone must have one, even, it would seem, young children. The question is (we will answer it ourselves): how smart are we in encouraging and enabling children (even adults) to use AI or their smart phones? Sure, smart phones can provide quick easy answers to many requests that previously would have entailed us rushing off to a library or phoning a friend or asking the teacher/parent for the information; instead, it is all there at the press of a button. They can provide easy access to friends all around the world, allow learning on courses from all parts of the world and enable working from home instead of trailing into an office. They give us answers.
Let us also perhaps apply the SMART acronym to test whether Smart phones and AI should be used. Are they Specific? To a point, yes, though only if the question is specific. Are they Measurable? Yes, only if we determine the measurement. Are they Achievable? Of course, the reach of the internet is massive so can provide any amount of answers. Are they Relevant? Aha, relevant to what or to whom? Are they Time-bound? Well, they are quick, for sure. So, they are smart, we conclude.
Here is a point to consider though: what about applying the more important acronym of THINK as a means to assess the issue? Do Smart phones know if something is True? Think carefully! Can they assess if something is Helpful? Are they Inspiring? Do they provide us only with what is Necessary? And are they Kind? The answer to all of those questions lies in the simple fact of what is put into the machine in the first place. They may only provide answers according to what others think. Can they catch the tone of a voice or the look on a face as being clues to the answers required?
And there is the point: Smart phones and AI do not require us to think for ourselves. That means we become lazy. We do not need to remember numbers, addresses, references as we can always just turn to our appliance. There is little appliance required of us. As a result, we become lazy and dependent on others — not exactly qualities that we would be looking for in an interviewee?
AI and Smart phones curb our creativity and originality; AI will only produce other people’s creativity. There is a real danger that they will not assist Critical Thinking to the question posed (will we refer to AI in an interview in order to answer a question posed there?). Smart thinking is required, if we are to do well in an interview. As is Communication, Collaboration and Character. And of course, smart phones cannot do many things that we need to do (and which would be important to someone interviewing us). Can they do exercise for us? Can they recognise beauty when they see it, in a sunset or a flower? Can they touch any of our senses?
We need to be smart to handle smart phones and AI. Parents need to be very smart to know when to allow their child to have one (bear in mind a driving licence is only granted at the earliest to a sixteen-year-old). Being smart is important, especially in interviews — no question! But we need to answer questions ourselves. Being smart enough not to rely on smart phones or AI must be the aim of all educators (teachers, parents, influencers, whoever). Do we think we are smart? Really?