Gumbs cautions against over-reliance on AI, should be a tool, not replacement for thinking

GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs has warned against the growing tendency to use artificial intelligence as a replacement for independent thought, reading and writing, stressing that AI should remain a tool rather than take over the mental work people need to do for themselves.

Speaking during her most recent MECYS update, Gumbs said she has previously addressed the issue and remains concerned about people relying almost entirely on AI-generated letters, speeches, questions and other written material. She argued that when people allow AI to handle almost every thinking and writing task, they are no longer exercising one of the body's most important tools, the brain.

“When all you are is AI-generated letters, speeches, questions, then the most important workout that you can give your body, a workout that exercises your brain, is not happening,” she said.

Gumbs linked her concern to research on cognition and warned that failing to regularly exercise thinking and comprehension skills can have longer-term consequences. “And I think, for me, that says, based on research, cognitive decline is in your future, and rapid decline at that, depending on how little exercise you actually give your brain,” she said.

The Minister said people with strong critical thinking, reading and comprehension skills are often able to recognize work that has been generated almost entirely by AI. “People who possess critical thinking abilities, who possess reading and comprehension skills, who are actually actively literate, can tell every time when it's AI,” Gumbs said.

She added that producing content through AI without understanding the subject should not be viewed as an accomplishment. “It's not a flex. It's actually more of a failure and more of a commentary on your lack of literacy skills than anything else,” she said.

Gumbs encouraged people to examine the issue for themselves, including reading available research and watching educational explanations on the effects of over-reliance on AI. “You can look up the papers, you can read them yourself, you can watch the breakdown videos if you want,” she said.

She urged students, professionals and the wider public to return to the basic habits of reading source material, understanding it and developing their own written response. “Actually read that report. Actually read that book. Read to understand, read to comprehend, read to be able to write about it, and then actually write about it,” she said.

At the same time, Gumbs has not rejected the use of AI. The Ministry's national short story contest, “Beats, Bytes and Bacchanal,” directly challenges young writers to think about the role of artificial intelligence and emerging technology in the future of St. Maarten's culture.

The theme asks participants to imagine Carnival in the year 2050 and consider how AI and new technology could influence the way people celebrate while preserving culture, tradition and heritage.

“It's imagining Carnival in the year 2050. How does AI and emerging technology shape the future of how we celebrate the culture, tradition, while maintaining the innovation and cultural heritage?” Gumbs explained.

The Minister's remarks placed emphasis on responsible use rather than rejection of artificial intelligence. She said the technology can be useful, but people must continue to read, understand, question and develop their own thoughts.

Her message was that the value of AI depends on how it is used and that technology should support human thinking, not replace it.

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