Opinion

Has AI Finally Gotten Out of Control?

A deeper dive into AI as we look at its effects on humans and the environment.

Kazz Cothrine-Erby and Kallen Stromlund | May 4, 2026

At the click of a button, consumers are now able to generate complex images. How does this power impact one’s ability to think for themselves?

Kallen Stromlund

Has AI finally gotten out of control? It’s a question that lingers with many. AI has been integrated far and wide and much as a helpful tool it can be. It has been spreading farther and farther, and this has caused massive real world effects.

According to an MIT media lab study, extreme amounts of reliance on AI may have an effect on the brain’s memory as well as the ability to critically think and problem solve. Although this came from a reliable source, the study needs to be taken with a grain of salt as it has not been fully peer reviewed.

Other studies about this topic have come to similar conclusions. It has reached a point where humans seem to be relying on AI more and more for academic purposes, showing that AI has also been linked to the recent uptick in illiteracy rates.

Alix Jones (9) expresses how AI will affect the future, especially with things such as music and learning.

“AI is something that I believe will affect learning because it’s something that someone can just go to right away to do for them, instead of doing it themselves,” Jones said.

To add onto that, AI has started to be in a way unavoidable in academics and even the entertainment industry, such as shows, music, acting, writing and more.

Art teacher Mrs. Bradley expresses her concerns explaining though AI might not be much of an issue now it will most definitely be in the future, stating that AI most likely will take creative jobs away and how the main value of art is humanity, something a robot cannot compare to.

“I don’t personally love AI, and I don’t think there’s enough caution around it.” Bradley said. “I think the wealthy people in charge pushing it forward are only worried about the money, they’re not worried about the consequences on how it’s gonna affect people.”

AI has been evolving at a alarming rate and only the future shows what will happen next.

Frequent Concerns Over AI Usage

Threats to the Creative Sector

Large companies will invest in AI generative content because it is more cost-effective for their profit margins this will impact, and have started to impact:
- Music Industry
  - Companies are investing in AI artist
- Marketing
  - AI advertisements and promotional materials are seen as more efficient
- Online Content Creation
  - AI-generated influencers are a cheap and potentially alluring way to promote products

Environmental Concerns

Generative AI centers, such as that for ChatGPT, take a "staggering amount of electricity" this can result in:
- Increased Carbon dioxide emission
- Pressure on the electrical grid
AI centers also require an immense amount of water, resulting in a threat to water access in decades to come

Intellectual Dependence

Intellectual vitality is threatened
- Critical thinking and analytical problem solving are more often being nullified as generations turn to AI for answers
Misinformation
- AI is not a perfect informational model, and due to its adaptive nature, AI has the capacity to and does model their responses based on the feedback and opinions of the viewer, ultimately feeding into a society already struggling in online echo chambers

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About the Contributors

Kazz Cothrine-Erby, Reporter

Kazz Cothrine-Erby is a freshman at Liberty. In 8th grade, Kazz was in Mr. Rumbo’s class with his two best friends Jaren and Kallen. There, they started a podcast called “Distracted Ink” and Kazz later decided that they would want to continue their journey in podcasts and or journaling. Kazz enjoys writing realistic fiction, thrillers and poetry, and also enjoys listening to true crime podcasts. Kazz hopes to continue “Distracted Ink” during freshman year with the original members.

Kallen Stromlund, Reporter

Kallen Stromlund is a freshman known for their long list of allergies. They are in band as a percussionist and are usually seen with friends such as Kazz, Jaren, Alexis, Collin and more in 8th grade was in Mr. Rumbo’s new class and joined a podcast called “Distracted Ink.” They hope to pursue this type of work later in life.