AI Advancements Cause Rising Tensions
Artificial intelligence technology has seen rapid advancements in recent years and generative AI applications, such as ChatGPT, have become common use across a variety of industries and platforms.
Through social media, AI has become more widespread and hashtags such as #ai, #chatgpt and #aiart each have millions of posts across platforms such as Instagram and X.
Ethical considerations of these programs remain divisive, and many strong opinions are shared online regularly. While some people feel that these programs can be beneficial tools, others feel that the cons outweigh the pros and that lack of regulation may lead to more harm than good.
Perspective: AI in Education
Since ChatGPT’s introduction for public use in 2022, it has become one of the most widely used Gen AI applications. Being especially popular among students, educators have found difficulty regulating the use of these programs. Teachers have spoken up on social media with their concerns about ChatGPT use in the classroom, such as in the post shown above.
One popular TikTok user, @askcatgpt, creates content discussing the many conversations surrounding AI technologies. In the video shown below, posted in February 2025, she shared a conversation she had with a college student regarding the student’s experience with ChatGPT. In the video, the creator said that children are “put in an impossible position” when deciding between the “temptation” of ChatGPT and developing stronger critical thinking skills. “We owe kids resources,” she said. “We owe them much more than just, ‘good luck.'”
Reddit forums such as r/teachers or r/school have also hosted discussions surrounding the AI debate. Some students have expressed concerns over being “flagged” for AI use, even when the work submitted is their own, and some teachers said they have resorted to more “pen and paper” assignments to prevent cheating.
Perspective: Artists Speak Out Against AI
The art community is particularly divided over the use of AI. AI artists have risen in popularity, sharing their generated creations across various social media platforms. Recently, artists have expressed concerns over potential job loss, the ethical boundaries of AI-generated art and the importance of supporting non-AI-using artists.
In the above video, one popular digital artist shared their thoughts on why “AI art is boring.” They said that, with a lack of human involvement, AI art lacks the same interest and depth that art created by people exhibits. Hashtags such as #noaiart and #aivsartist have become more popular for artists to showcase their resistance to AI-generated art.
The entertainment industry has also seen an increase in AI use. Actor Adrian Brody recently received backlash for his performance in The Brutalist (2025), in which AI was used to modify his accent. Other films and shows, such as Late Night with the Devil (2024) and Marvel’s Secret Invasion (2023) series received backlash for their use of AI-generated art.
Something Unique: A Look into the Future & AI in Politics
With the advancement of AI technologies, ethical debates surrounding the programs have expanded into political debates as well. President Donald Trump recently shared an AI-generated video on Instagram showing his “vision” for the Gaza Strip in Palestine. Many people voiced their concern over the ethical demonstrations in the video, with many angered commenters stating the video was “disrespectful” or “dystopian.”
On March 5, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X that student visas would be revoked for international students who “support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas.” According to a report from Axios, State Department officials said that AI programming will be used to review students’ social media accounts, scanning for “alleged terrorist sympathies.”
With heightened political tensions, many people have expressed concern over the use of AI in politics. Entrepreneur Naval Ravikant guest-starred on a popular technology and business podcast, All-In Podcast, where he shared his sentiments on the danger of democratizing AI. The podcast was posted on YouTube on Feb. 14, 2025, and the clip was posted on popular technology and business Instagram accounts, as seen in the screenshot above. “If you really think you’re going to create God, do you want to put God on a leash, with one entity controlling God?” Ravikant said. “That, to me, is the real fear.”
Conclusion
As AI continues to grow in popularity, and the technology continues to advance, the uses of AI will continue to expand. Discussion and debate surrounding the ethical considerations of using these applications may continue to progress as many people remain uncertain about the benefits of AI programs. As AI technology continues to transform the digital age, the use of ChatGPT in schools will continue to create new rules and regulations for academic standards, artists will continue to fight for more recognition and new technologies will continue to present themselves in unexpected ways.