Technology

 

Introduction

For this assignment, I chose to explore how artificial intelligence can assist with writing and research by using ChatGPT to generate an essay on the impact of the internet on traditional media. In this blog post, I will share the AI-generated content exactly as it was produced, along with the sources the AI provided. After presenting the essay, I will offer my own analysis of the information, discuss the accuracy of the sources, and reflect on the larger questions surrounding the use of AI in academic settings. This includes considerations of plagiarism, academic integrity, and the evolving role of AI in higher education.

AI-Generated Content

"The internet has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of traditional media by transforming how information is created, distributed, and consumed. Before the rise of digital technology, newspapers, radio, and television dominated the flow of news and entertainment. However, the internet has introduced speed, interactivity, and global accessibility that traditional media alone could not match. As online platforms grew, traditional outlets had to rapidly adapt or risk becoming irrelevant.

One major shift caused by the internet is the transition from print journalism to digital news. Online articles can be updated instantly, shared widely through social media, and accessed for free, which has significantly reduced the demand for printed newspapers. Many long-standing publications have transitioned to digital-only models to cut costs and reach broader audiences. According to Newman (2020), digital news consumption now surpasses print consumption worldwide, highlighting the internet’s dominance in information delivery.

Television has also been reshaped by internet-based streaming services. Platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube allow viewers to watch content whenever they choose rather than relying on scheduled programming. This shift has weakened the influence of broadcast networks and cable providers. Lotz (2018) explains that streaming platforms have disrupted the economic models of traditional TV by emphasizing subscriptions and on-demand access instead of advertising-based broadcast systems.

Radio, too, has evolved because of the internet. Podcasts, music-streaming apps, and satellite radio now compete directly with traditional AM/FM stations. According to Berry (2016), podcasting has grown into a major media format, offering niche content and long-form storytelling that traditional radio formats cannot always support.

Overall, the internet has forced traditional media to innovate. Many newspapers now rely on paywalls, TV networks compete by offering their own streaming services, and radio stations use online apps to reach listeners. While traditional media has not disappeared, the internet continues to reshape its role, pushing it toward a more digital, interactive, and user-centered future."
(OpenAI, 2025)

Sources Provided by AI:
Berry, R. (2016). Podcasting: Considering the evolution of the medium and its association with the word ‘radio’. Journal of Radio & Audio Media.
Lotz, A. (2018). Portals: A Treatise on Internet-Distributed Television. University of Michigan Press.
Newman, N. (2020). Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2020.

My Analysis

After looking up the sources the AI provided, I was actually surprised by how accurate they were. All three sources are legitimate scholarly works, and each one connects directly to the points made in the essay, whether it’s the rise of podcasting, the shift toward internet-based television, or how digital news has overtaken print. Seeing that the sources were real and relevant made the essay feel more trustworthy, but it also reminded me that AI doesn’t always get citations right, so checking them myself is essential. Even though the AI-generated essay was well-written, I still wouldn’t submit it as my own work in a class. It doesn’t reflect my personal voice, my experiences, or my understanding of the topic. Turning it in would feel dishonest, and it would go against academic integrity policies. A big part of learning is being able to express ideas in your own words, and letting AI do that for me would take away from that process.

I do think that using AI content without giving credit absolutely counts as plagiarism. The moment you pass something off as your own, whether it comes from a book, a website, or an AI, you’re misrepresenting its authorship. But when AI is clearly cited, like in this assignment, it becomes a tool rather than a shortcut. The key is transparency. This activity also taught me that AI is helpful, but not perfect. It can generate real, useful sources, but it can also produce fake or mismatched ones if you aren’t careful. That means students can’t rely on AI blindly; we still have to double-check everything, especially citations.

As for how universities should respond to AI in education, I think the best approach is to teach students how to use it responsibly. AI isn’t going away, so pretending it doesn’t exist won’t help anyone. Instead, professors should guide students on when AI is appropriate, how to cite it, and how to make sure it supplements, rather than replaces, their own thinking. Looking ahead, AI is going to have a huge impact on education. It can support learning by helping students brainstorm, understand complex topics, and organize their ideas. But it also raises new challenges about originality and critical thinking. Students will need to show that they can think independently, even when AI is available at their fingertips. The future of education will depend on finding a balance between using AI as a helpful tool and maintaining the integrity of student work.

References

Berry, R. (2016). Podcasting: Considering the evolution of the medium and its association with the word ‘radio’. Journal of Radio & Audio Media.

Common misunderstandings about artificial intelligence. (2025, July 31). Facebook. Retrieved December 6, 2025, from https://www.facebook.com/groups/698593531630485/posts/1347657903390708/

Johnson, K. (2022, May 22). Essay: The Future of Streaming Services – The UCSD Guardian. The UCSD Guardian. Retrieved December 6, 2025, from https://ucsdguardian.org/2022/05/22/essay-the-future-of-streaming-services/

Lotz, A. (2018). Portals: A Treatise on Internet-Distributed Television. University of Michigan Press.

Newman, N. (2020). Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2020.

The Rise of Digital Journalism: Past, Present, and Future. (2021, March 15). Maryville Online. Retrieved December 6, 2025, from https://online.maryville.edu/blog/digital-journalism/

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (Dec 6 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat