With the incorporation of generative artificial intelligence in our web browsers, computers and even cars, it’s no surprise that generative artificial intelligence would be introduced into arguably the most important tool we use every day: smartphones. 

Now the iPhone 15 Pro and onwards will be receiving new AI features, that are all branded Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence features will include the ability to change the tone of emails, generate art with genmoji and image playground, have enhanced photo searches, emAIl/notification summaries and more. 

87 percent of teen students use iPhones, which means AI will have a much greater impact on student life as a whole, since teens use their phones on an average of 7 hours a day. A majority of students using their phones for 7 hours a day will now be exposed to an increased use of AI. 

With a greater impact on students, generative AI on phones may increase the dependency students have to their phones, or further increase other negative existing aspects AI has. This includes plagiarism, ethical concerns and others.  

Freshman Joseph Mendoza believes that generative AI on phones would only make it harder for schools to prevent abuse of it. 

“It’s just harder for the school to regulate the use of AI,” Mendoza said. 

On the other hand, freshman Kai Parsavan thinks that generative AI could be used for good, and that the use of AI isn’t all negative. 

“I think AI’s good for centralizing topics and going through a lot of articles and allowing you to research easier,” Parsavand said.

Parsavand may have some truth in this statement, but the rules are different when it comes to your personal phone. Schools cannot regulate use of the generative AI that is already embedded inside of your phone’s software. 

And when it comes to Oak Park High School, a highschool allowing phones to be used openly on campus, it would become dangerously easy to whip out your phone in class, point it at your textbook, and have your phone summarize it for you instead of reading the whole thing yourself.

This problem may already exist with existing Android users, but now that it’s coming to iPhones and it has a more significant impact, this problem of using AI to shortcut through class will only become more problematic.  

As more and more generative AI is incorporated into our lives, students should be wary as to not rely on it so much.