Generative Ai
Generative Ai
SÃO CRISTÓVÃO-SE-BRAZIL
2024
ALLESSANDRA ELISABETH DOS SANTOS
SÃO CRISTÓVÃO-SE-BRAZIL
2024
FICHA CATALOGRÁFICA ELABORADA PELA BIBLIOTECA CENTRAL
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SERGIPE
CDU 37:004.8:81
In loving memory of Dinda Marisa,
Vovó Carmosa,
and my sweet Paris,
whose spirit and love continue to inspire me.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
AI: word of 2023. The abbreviation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was named the word of the
year by Collins Dictionary, reflecting its growing prominence in everyday life. Although AI
has long permeated various aspects of human activity, our society only began recognizing its
ubiquitous presence after ChatGPT was released on November 30, 2022. ChatGPT, an AI
chatbot that produces human-like responses, exemplifies Generative Artificial Intelligence
(GenAI) technologies now widely accessible, provoking discussions and raising ethical
concerns across social, political, economic, and academic contexts. In education, technologies
undeniably reshaped writing, a social practice grounded in evolving literacy perspectives.
Recognizing these transformations, the central question of this study is: How does the
integration of GenAI technologies, like Large Language Models (LLMs), redefine the concept
of writing in educational contexts? To address this question, this research aims to apprehend
the concept of the phenomenon of writing impacted by the adoption of GenAI in societal
contexts in the field of education. Additionally, the specific objectives are to examine the
approach to writing conveyed on internet-based platforms, particularly after the launch of
ChatGPT, and to explore educational, pedagogical, and ethical issues related to the impact of
AI-text generators, especially ChatGPT, raised on these platforms. Considering that the study
of the phenomenon of writing cannot be done in isolation from our society, knowledge, and
culture, it is crucial to adopt an epistemological and methodological approach that rejects
oversimplifying realities. Guided by Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015), this qualitative,
documentary, and bibliographic study analyzed 60 documents — including digital newspaper
articles, social media posts, YouTube videos, podcasts, and websites — using Analytical
Entwining integrated with GenAI. Findings revealed eight theoretical constructs. The key terms
— revolution, integrity, and transformation — were extracted from the first three constructs
and address the first specific objective of this research. While the key terms — enhancement,
support, quality, authenticity, equity, and integration — extracted from five theoretical
constructs, address the second objective. By situating writing as an evolving social practice that
interacts reciprocally with GenAI, the study suggests that GenAI broadens writing as a social
technology, reinforcing the need for adaptive strategies that ensure AI augments rather than
replaces human agency. The integration of GenAI in writing, analyzed through the principles
of Complex Thinking, reveals a complex interplay between technology and human agency, with
both elements in constant adaptation, influencing each other systemically, holographically,
recursively, and dialogically, ensuring that the writing process remains dynamic and grounded
in humanistic values. Recognizing writing as part of this evolving system, this research
introduces the concept of writing as an ecosystem, in which technology and human elements
are interdependent and mutually enhancing, contributing to a more collaborative and adaptive
approach to writing instruction.
IA: palavra de 2023. A abreviatura de Inteligência Artificial (IA) foi nomeada a palavra do ano
pelo Dicionário Collins, refletindo sua crescente proeminência na vida cotidiana. Embora a IA
já permeasse vários aspectos da atividade humana, nossa sociedade apenas passou a reconhecer
a sua presença ubíqua após o lançamento do ChatGPT, em 30 de novembro de 2022. O
ChatGPT, um chatbot de IA que gera respostas semelhantes às de humanos, exemplifica as
tecnologias de Inteligência Artificial Generativa (IAG) atualmente amplamente acessíveis,
provocando discussões e suscitando preocupações éticas em contextos sociais, políticos,
econômicos e acadêmicos. No campo da educação, as tecnologias inegavelmente remodelaram
a escrita, entendida como uma prática social fundamentada em perspectivas de letramentos em
constante evolução. Reconhecendo essas transformações, a questão central deste estudo é:
Como a integração de tecnologias de IAG, como Modelos de Linguagem de Grande Escala
(LLMs), redefine a concepção de escrita em contextos educacionais? Para responder a essa
pergunta, esta pesquisa objetiva apreender a concepção do fenômeno escrita impactado pela
adoção da IAG em contextos sociais na área da educação. Além disso, propõe-se como
objetivos específicos examinar a abordagem da escrita veiculada em plataformas digitais,
sobretudo após o lançamento do ChatGPT, e explorar questões educacionais, pedagógicas e
éticas relacionadas ao impacto de geradores de texto em IA — especialmente o ChatGPT —
levantadas nessas plataformas. Considerando que o estudo do fenômeno escrita não pode se
dissociar de nossa sociedade, conhecimento e cultura, torna-se fundamental adotar uma
perspectiva epistemológica e metodológica que rejeite a simplificação excessiva das realidades.
Orientado pelo Pensamento Complexo (Morin, 2015), este estudo qualitativo, de caráter
documental e bibliográfico, analisou 60 documentos — incluindo artigos de jornais digitais,
publicações em redes sociais, vídeos no YouTube, podcasts e sites — utilizando o Entrelace
Analítico integrado à IAG. Os resultados evidenciaram oito construtos teóricos. Os termos-
chave — revolução, integridade e transformação — foram extraídos dos três primeiros
construtos e atendem ao primeiro objetivo específico desta pesquisa. Já os termos-chave —
aprimoramento, suporte, qualidade, autenticidade, equidade e integração — extraídos de cinco
construtos teóricos, respondem ao segundo objetivo. Ao situar a escrita como uma prática social
em constante evolução e em interação recíproca com a IAG, o estudo sugere que a IAG amplia
a escrita como tecnologia social, reforçando a necessidade de estratégias adaptativas que
garantam a complementação, em vez da substituição, da agência humana. A integração da IAG
à escrita, analisada sob os princípios do Pensamento Complexo, revela uma interação complexa
entre tecnologia e agência humana, com ambos os elementos em contínua adaptação,
influenciando-se mutuamente de maneira sistêmica, holográfica, recursiva e dialógica. Isso
assegura que o processo de escrita permaneça dinâmico e ancorado em valores humanísticos.
Reconhecendo a escrita como parte desse sistema em evolução, esta pesquisa introduz a
concepção de escrita como ecossistema, em que aspectos tecnológicos e humanos são
interdependentes e se fortalecem mutuamente, contribuindo para uma abordagem de ensino da
escrita mais colaborativa e adaptativa.
AI Artificial Intelligence
AWE Automated Writing Evaluation
CAPES Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
CEP Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa
CESAD Centro de Educação Superior a Distância
DL Deep Learning
GenAI Generative Artificial Intelligence
GLTR Generative Textual Likelihood Ratio
GPT Generative Pre-trained Transformer
ICC International Criminal Court
IOA Intelligent Online Assessment
IoT Internet of Things
LLMs Large Language Models
ML Machine Learning
NLP Natural Language Processing
PMFGN Personalized Multimodal Feedback Generation Network
PDSE Programa de Doutorado Sanduíche no Exterior
PPGED Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação
TCLE Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido
TECLA Tecnologias, Educação e Linguística Aplicada
TLMs Transformer Language Models
UFS Universidade Federal de Sergipe
UFSC Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
UNCISAL Universidade Estadual de Ciências da Saúde de Alagoas
UNINASSAU Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau
VCU Virginia Commonwealth University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1
1
Image generated using OpenAI’s DALL-E image generation tool on November 11, 2023. The prompt used for
generation was: “Generate images that represent a female researcher wearing glasses and with dark hair.
She’s at the beginning of her study path, focusing on education, writing, artificial intelligence, and ChatGPT.
The images depict a woman at a crossroads, surrounded by symbolic elements related to her areas of research”.
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The journey you are about to embark on addresses areas of knowledge intrinsically
linked to the structure of our contemporary societies, which are Artificial Intelligence (AI),
Technologies, Languages, and Education. So, I have decided to present my initial path by
inviting you to reflect upon a quotation by one of the Nobel Peace Prize 2021 winners, Maria
Angelita Ressa, a journalist and author.
“So, who knows what will happen in our May elections? One thing is clear [...] you
cannot have integrity of elections if you don’t have integrity of facts. And that is something all
of us, all democracies around the world face” (Ressa, 2021). Maria Angelita Ressa said this
quotation in an interview on the importance of a free press for PBS NewsHour, a North
American evening television news program. As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-
founder of Rappler (Rappler, 2021), an online news website based in the Philippines, the 2021
Nobel Peace laureate has faced constant political harassment and arrests by the Duterte
government (Ratcliffe, 2022). Rodrigo Duterte ruled the presidency in the Philippines from
2016 to 2022. He’s known as “The Punisher” due to the high number of extrajudicial killings
in his “war on drugs”, an estimate of up to 30,000 people died according to the International
Criminal Court (ICC). Ressa was forced to post bail various times in order to remain out of
prison. Rappler’s battle for truth and democracy is being charged by the Philippines government
with having committed cyber-libel.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize
for 2021 to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard
freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting
peace. Ms. Ressa and Mr. Muratov are receiving the Peace Prize for their
courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia. At
the same time, they are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this
ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face
increasingly adverse conditions (Reiss-Andersen, 2021).
The Nobel Peace Committee acknowledges the need for a reform of social media
platforms due to their role in fostering hatred and violence. In Ressa’s speech, she warned about
the manipulation taking place on social media platforms, with algorithms prioritizing lies over
facts. Ressa highlighted the role of technology and social media platforms in aiding the rise of
21
such regimes and stressed the need for regulation to curb the impunity that social media enjoys.
From Ressa’s perspective, technology acts as the accelerant of disinformation and fake news
since social media has placed a greater emphasis on circulating misinformation and the spread
of hatred over verifiable facts. She calls for a reform of social media platforms since algorithms
of amplification and algorithms of distribution have been programmed by humans with coded
bias, and to be profit-driven.
The development of algorithms that pose risks also arouses the interest of a highly
profitable market, whose financial return and power relations are markedly significant and
could already be proven, as in the Brexit elections in the United Kingdom, and for president of
the United States, in 2016 and Brazil, in 2018. Social media platforms use algorithms to
personalize the content we see by prioritizing information that aligns with our personal beliefs
and interests. The phenomenon is called filter bubbles, a term coined by Pariser (2011). It is
also described as a state of “intellectual isolation” (Srba et al., 2023, p. 4), negatively impacting
democratic discourse. In addition, the creation of informational bubbles in social media is a
consequence of AI and improved algorithms, which leads us to interact with and access content
primarily from people who have consensual lines of reasoning and opinions (Santaella, 2019).
This phenomenon presents the danger that critical issues will get filtered, leaving people
unexposed to views different from their own.
In all these political scenes, we recognize another phenomenon named post-truth
(McIntyre, 2018), in which truth loses its relevant character in the formation of public opinion,
with a preference for information whose basis lies in beliefs and emotions. Although post-truth
(Oxford, 2016), the word of the year 2016, is not a current phenomenon, the ubiquity — the
state of being omnipresent, a modern life concept resulting from hypermobility (Santaella,
2013) — enabled by smartphones in our daily lives, ends up scaling it.
During the Brazilian presidential elections in 2022, the advances in AI technologies
continued to impact the decision-making processes of many voters who were being bombarded
with misinformation (Jeantet, 2022). False narratives include claims about the leftist candidate,
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, planning to close churches, among other fake news. Also, far-right
YouTube channels have collected more views compared to leftist channels, when the candidate
and former president Jair Messias Bolsonaro questioned the safety of the electronic voting
machines and the fairness of the electoral process. In response to these false allegations, the
Superior Electoral Court has empowered itself to ban content that undermines the electoral
process, demanding that social media platforms remove such content within an hour or face
fines. Luiz Edson Fachin, Brazilian jurist, lawyer, and president of the Supreme Court during
22
that period, stated that those serious allegations of fraud had no evidence. Fachin highlighted
“It is about time to stop misinformation and authoritarian populism that puts the 1988
Constitution in jeopardy (RBA, 2022, my translation)”. During a period of elections filled with
misinformation and distrust in institutions, the manifesto entitled Carta à democracia (Letters
to Brazilians) (Paraguassu; Marcello, 2022) was released in order to restore faith in the
democratic process, emphasize the relevance of unbiased information as well as encourage
unity among Brazilian citizens.
Again, the United States faces all these concerns regarding disinformation campaigns
for the 2024 presidential elections. There is major constant worry expressed in the media due
to the rapid spread of misinformation made possible by the advancement of AI. The discussions
clearly show the fear that these campaigns may have implications for democracy (see Figure
1).
According to Vallarino (2023), this news article’s author, disinformation is not new in
our society, and is not only created by AI. However, he predicts a new scenario with the
advancements in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), because of “[…] models that can
spit out sophisticated essays and create realistic images from text prompts—make synthetic
23
propaganda possible”. The author highlights that there is considerable concern and fear, not
only for the 2024 US presidential elections but also for future campaigns in other countries such
as India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Taiwan.
The Year 2024 stands as a monumental milestone in the global democratic landscape,
marked as “The Ultimate Election Year”. This distinction arises not merely from the frequency
of elections but from their extensive reach and potential impact. In this year, an unprecedented
number of nations—specifically, 64 countries plus the European Union—will engage in
national elections. These elections encapsulate nearly half of the world’s population, about
49%, underscoring their significant democratic engagement. The outcomes of these elections
are poised to shape the geopolitical and social trajectories of these nations for years to come,
highlighting 2024 as a critical year in fortifying democratic processes and principles worldwide
(Ewe, 2023).
In an interview on GZERO World, the attention is also directed to the fact that 2024 is
the first US presidential election in the age of GenAI (Bremmer; Stelter; Hemmer, 2023). There
are concerns about the potential for AI-text and AI-image generator platforms, for instance
ChatGPT (developed by OpenAI) and Midjourney (developed by Midjourney, Inc.), capable of
spreading misinformation and disinformation more rapidly and easily than ever (see Figure 2).
These media experts say “[…] the stakes are incredibly high for truth and democracy”
(Bremmer; Stelter; Hemmer, 2023) based on the US previous elections. They mention as
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consistent examples of these issues the spread of disinformation in social media platforms in
2016, and the conspiracy theories and baseless claims regarding voter fraud in the 2020 election.
They agree on this, due to the amount of “information pollution in the atmosphere” by also
referring to the AI-faked images of Donald Trump’s imagined arrest (Higgins, 2023) (see
Figure 3).
Figure 3 – Imagined arrest images of Donald Trump created using Midjourney v5
In preparation for the 2024 elections in democratic processes, OpenAI has joined the
Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA)2 to support digital content
certification standards, helping authenticate AI-produced images and videos. The organization
has upgraded its systems to connect users with authoritative election information, including
integrating ChatGPT with official election websites (OpenAI, 2024).
OpenAI’s concern regarding the elections involves the responsible deployment and use
of its GenAI technologies, including the most recent AI text-to-video generation model. Sora is
still a research output that will be launched this year. However, OpenAI has informed that it
will not release any technology, including Sora, that could adversely affect worldwide elections
or propagate misinformation and biases in 2024. Given the potential for these technologies to
be misused, including creating misleading or deceptive content that could affect election
outcomes, OpenAI has implemented measures to safeguard against such risks. This includes
refining usage policies for AI tools, enhancing the transparency of AI-generated content, and
promoting access to reliable voting information. Additionally, OpenAI supports legislative
efforts, such as the “Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act” which aims to prohibit the
2
Available at: [Link]
25
Although OpenAI informs ChatGPT has limitations, it is undeniable that this AI chatbot
has achieved a major milestone compared to other platforms. Social media posts, digital
newspaper news, YouTube videos, and podcasts started reporting reactions across the United
States, Brazil, as well as other countries. Even though I am Brazilian, at the time ChatGPT was
rapidly gaining popularity, I was living in the United States.
From September 2022 to May 2023, I was doing my Doctoral “Sandwich” program,
Programa Institutional de Doutorado Sanduíche no Exterior (PDSE), at Virginia
Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia, as a CAPES 3 scholarship holder.
When I first arrived at VCU, in fact, since I had started working on my doctoral project in 2020,
I used to be told: “I don’t quite understand what your research is about, but it sounds
interesting”. This was an extremely common opinion because, although GPT-3-algorithm-
based text generators already existed, they did not match the immense popularity that ChatGPT
has achieved.
Between mid-2020, marked by the launch of GPT-3, and late November 2022, there
was a significant number of AI-writing platforms available on the market: ShortlyAI, JasperAI,
Simplified, Writesonic, Wordplay, [Link], to name a few. There was a concurrent
emergence of media and academic discourses. It is crucial to mention the article Artificial
intelligence in academic writing: what is in store with the GPT-3 algorithm? (Boa Sorte et al.,
2021). This article centered its discussion on concerns about the impacts on writing in terms of
ethics, creativity, and intellectual property. This scientific paper (see Figure 5) was published
by my advisor Prof. Dr. Paulo Boa Sorte, and co-authored by me and our research group
members: Prof. Dr. Mário Freitas, Jefferson Santos, and Jamile Dias, on October 8, 2021 and it
became a reference after the launch of ChatGPT.
3
CAPES, which stands for Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, is the publications
portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel whose mission is: to promote
graduate programs in Brazil through online access to scientific information.
27
In terms of media discourse, the news article4 published by The Guardian on September
8, 2020, was the first piece generated by a GPT-3 algorithm platform reported in the media (see
Figure 6). This article raised a multitude of ethical concerns due to the content it generated and
questions regarding the potential disappearance of professions, especially in the fields of
journalism and cinema.
The amount of media coverage on these issues was relatively limited in comparison to
the extensive media discourse since the advent of ChatGPT in late 2022. I recall having frequent
conversations with my advisor about the reactions I observed when the topic started being
addressed in lectures in various departments at VCU and other US universities. In addition, it
was when the number of news and posts I gathered about my theme of research began to
increase significantly. The vast majority of those responses follows the narrative of the
4
Available at: [Link]
28
technological phenomenon along human history (Lemos, 2013), in which we find ourselves
confronted with a new technology and our overall tendency is to respond with either
enchantment or fear. In the case of ChatGPT, many of the first reactions resulted in extreme,
negative, and critical attitudes (see Figure 7).
At the end of March 2023, Italy decided to temporarily ban ChatGPT (Zorloni, 2023).
According to Garante, the Italian data-protection authority, OpenAI could not legally justify the
collection and storage of users’ personal data to train their algorithms. Italy was the first
Western country to block this chatbot over privacy and ethical concerns. Stanzione (2023), the
president of Garante, described the following issues with the management of personal data by
OpenAI: lack of user information, absence of legal basis for data collection, inaccurate personal
data processing, no verification of users’ ages, risks to users under 13 years old potentially
exposed to inappropriate responses, among others. Despite that, on April 28, 2023, the Garante
removed its limit block of ChatGPT, informing that OpenAI had cooperated in responding to
the Italian authorities.
29
The absence of regulation for this AI-technology has fueled discussions about its
impacts not only on the social, political, and economic spheres but also in the field of education.
Even before Italy banned access to ChatGPT, the New York City (NYC) Education Department
had decided to block the AI-powered chatbot. In the first week of January 2023, access to
ChatGPT was restricted on devices and networks of NYC public schools (see Figure 8).
The reasons for this prohibition were deep worries about potential negative effects on
student learning, and about safety and veracity of the generated content. Furthermore, educators
feared cheating and plagiarism would become more common and this would make writing
assignments obsolete. As the nation’s largest school system in the US, NYC’s decision to
restrict ChatGPT access provokes a ripple effect influencing other school districts. Los Angeles
and Baltimore have agreed on this ban and also blocked access to ChatGPT. It worked as a
strategy so that other school districts had time to evaluate the benefits and risks of the chatbot
(Elsen-Rooney, 2023).
As to teachers’ reactions, they express most concerns on rethinking assessment and
teaching in light of GenAI technologies. The title of the article The college essay is dead clearly
expresses major worries and profound fear towards the impact of these technologies in
education. The image seems to be precisely selected to highlight all these feelings. The author
states concern regarding the historical significance of the essay in humanistic education,
30
emphasizing its role in teaching research, thinking, and writing skills. Similarly, the article The
end of high school English reacts unfavorably to the possibilities of the incorporation of Large
Language Models (LLMs) in education. The astonishment with the capabilities of ChatGPT
becomes an automatic fearful response (see Figure 9).
5
According to Ferrari and Cechinel (2008, p. 15), in the context of computing, in which machines manipulate data
from an instruction, “an algorithm can be defined as a finite sequence of steps (instructions) to solve a given
problem. Whenever we develop an algorithm, we are establishing a pattern of behavior that should be followed
(a norm of action execution) to achieve the result of a problem. For the development of an efficient algorithm it
is necessary to obey some basic premises at the moment of its construction: (i) define simple and unambiguous
actions; (ii) organize the actions in an orderly way; (iii) establish the actions within a finite sequence of steps [...]
Algorithms are able to perform tasks such as: 1) reading and writing data; 2) evaluating algebraic, relational and
logical expressions; 3) making decisions based on the results of the evaluated expressions; 4) repeating a set of
actions according to a condition”.
32
making it a valuable tool in educational settings where creativity and critical thinking are
essential (Ahmad et al., 2023; Lancaster, 2023; dos Santos et al., 2023).
To appreciate the full spectrum of AI, it is essential to recognize that AI as a field of
study has a rich history spanning over 70 years. This extensive background encompasses a
broad array of technologies beyond the contemporary focus on predictive and generative
models. Historically, AI research has progressed from early rule-based systems in the mid-20th
century through various paradigms, including symbolic AI, expert systems, and the latest
advances in ML techniques, culminating in today’s sophisticated neural network architectures
(Russell; Norvig, 2021). Each phase has contributed fundamentally to the diverse applications
and robust methodologies observed in current AI technologies.
Nowadays, ChatGPT is considered the most popular LLM based on the algorithm GPT-
4, the unlimited subscription-based version. GPT-4 outperforms its previous models because it
accepts both text and image inputs and emits text outputs. Besides the multimodality abilities,
its capacity to understand and generate more intricate and nuanced content is increased. It can
understand more languages and dialects with greater proficiency. Another extremely important
improvement is the enhancement of safety features, reducing harmful or biased outputs
(OpenAI, 2023a). Its most recent improvements: on September 25, the integration with speech-
to-text and text-to-speech technologies. This makes GPT-4 more accessible and user-friendly
because the user’s voice inputs are converted to text so they can be processed and finally, read
out loud (OpenAI, 2023b), and GPT-4o (“o” for “omni”), the most advanced model to date. It
is a multimodal system, capable of accepting both text and image inputs and outputting text.
This model provides GPT-4-level intelligence and enhances its capabilities across text, voice,
and vision, all while delivering much faster performance (OpenAI, 2024).
The available free version, which now also offers limited access to GPT-4o, is based on
GPT-3.5 and it can be accessed via the official website, or the mobile app. Its predecessor is
the GPT-3, which served as the basis for ChatGPT, has 175 billion parameters. For the purpose
of comprehending this number in perspective, let us factor in account previous models, GPT-2,
considered cutting-edge and surprisingly large when released in 2019, which had 1.5 billion
parameters. Clarifying the understanding about the size of GPT-3, I exemplify with data from
Wikipedia, whose English version surpassed on January 23, 2020, 6 million articles, equaling
only 0.06% of the data trained by GPT-3.
After originally publishing its GPT-3 research in May 2020, OpenAI selected members
of the public and allowed access to the model via an API (Application Programming Interface).
Over the course of subsequent days, samples of text generated by GPT-3 began to circulate
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widely on social media. After the release of GPT-3, it became commonplace to come across
reports on the internet with titles alarming about the possibilities and consequences of this kind
of technology for writing. However, extremely far from the serious repercussions that surround
our society nowadays. In 2021, when the article entitled GPT-3: will the world’s most powerful
writing AI replace a journalist? (Zaramela, 2021) was published, it addressed the doubt
regarding the replacement of this professional, described the experience of using this language
model in Portuguese and English, and exemplified with texts initiated by humans and continued
by the AI. Since late November 2022, with the extensive outperformance of GPT-3.5 and GPT-
4 capabilities, many more professions have been impacted by this technology, in particular,
educators and schools. The latest changes that have occurred in society are undoubtedly far-
reaching,
As an English teacher for 27 years, I reflect on the impact of yet another technology in
the history of the language teaching-learning process, particularly the English language, whose
path of methodologies has always been shaped by the development of technologies. Turning to
the context of writing, my professional experience teaches me the affordances of an English
language learner in search of skills, strategies, and the necessary dispositions for writing. Thus,
writing is redefined if we take into consideration aspects such as textual genres, structural issues
of the language, and contents, previously seen as the focus in the learning process of writing
and that by means of language models can be automatically generated. The GPT-3-generated
texts were initiated by humans, but continued by algorithms. With the advancements in NLP,
the GPT-3.5 and most importantly, the ones generated by GPT-4 definitely imposed questions
that were already bothering educators, schools, and educational institutions. Concepts regarding
authorship are part of this debate when it comes to a human-language model writing partnership.
AI then draws attention to ethical and intellectual property implications for writing.
The recent refinement of this technology may further instigate reflections on creativity
in academic writing. Writing academic papers, whether in secondary or higher education, can
be conceived as a source of anxiety and stress for faculty and students (Casanave, 2019; Russell-
Pinson; Harris, 2019). The difficulties lie in choosing the focus to be given to the work as well
as the search for bibliographical references and citations to substantiate the research, to the
writing of the work itself. Students engaged in academic writing need to create texts that are
strictly coherent with what the scientific community expects from them “that will evaluate them
and that they will surely want to join” — a work that implies time and effort, is linked to the
reading of other texts, meets specific standards, and requires the practice of a constant reflective
exercise (Pinto, 2018, p. 9).
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Technological changes interfere with the learning of writing, imposing on students not
only the need to learn specific textual genres, but to continuously learn to write across this
variety of technologies, modalities, and contexts (Leu et al., 2016). The authors propose the
development of an expanded perspective on writing through the lens of literacies since
technologies redefine what writing means, as they are developed. In light of these shifts, this
study seeks to explore the intersection of technology and text creation within educational
settings, particularly in the advent of GenAI technologies. The following research questions
guide this inquiry: How does the integration of GenAI technologies, like LLMs, redefine the
concept of writing in educational contexts? What changes in approaches to writing have been
observed following the launch of ChatGPT? What educational and pedagogical issues have
arisen from the integration of AI-text generators in teaching environments? What ethical
concerns are associated with the use of AI-text generators like ChatGPT in education, and how
are these concerns being addressed?
I am guided by the view of literacies of the New London group whose manifesto entitled
A pedagogy of multiliteracies: Designing social futures, published in 1996, recognizes the
importance of graphocentric school literacy, but problematizes it for not being sufficient in the
face of constant changes, local and global, generated by the impacts of information and
communication technologies.
In this pedagogy of multiliteracies, the proposal is the semiotic study of texts, with
different ways of producing, transmitting and consuming them. The group is based on the fact
of the “immense linguistic, cultural and social diversity of today’s world and how this diversity
has become increasingly constitutive of social life” (Kalantzis; Cope; Pinheiro, 2020, p. 117);
and also, on the fact that the written text, as never before possible, integrates with images and
sounds, making possible an increasing multiplicity and integration of ways of constructing
meaning, due to the multiplicity of communication media.
The launch of ChatGPT has undoubtedly marked a turning point for further
transformations in writing. Writing has always been impacted by technologies and this AI-
chatbot highlights the already existing need for discussion taking into consideration ethical
implications, intellectual property, creativity and writing affordances. These are all aspects that
integrate writing as a social practice. To expand my perspective upon this phenomenon, I
understand it is crucial to apprehend the reality that surrounds it toward the possibility to
contribute to the generation of new knowledge both scientifically valid and socially relevant
(Petraglia; Moraes, 2022). The reality perceived and investigated in this study is the concept of
35
writing in the GenAI context, undergoing one more of its various transformations along human
history.
Considering this context, the object of this study is the concept of the phenomenon of
writing impacted by GenAI in the field of education. My thesis aims to support the proposition
that the use of GenAI broadens the concept of the phenomenon of writing as a social technology.
The purposes of my research are to develop a concept of writing in the context of LLMs and
GenAI; to reflect upon the impact of this technology on education; and to reflect upon how to
write and how to teach writing. The general objective is to apprehend the concept of the
phenomenon of writing impacted by the adoption of GenAI in educational contexts.
Specifically, this study aims to examine the approach to writing conveyed on internet-based
platforms, particularly after the launch of ChatGPT; and to explore educational, pedagogical,
and ethical issues related to the impact of AI-text generators, especially ChatGPT, raised on
internet-based platforms. The research utilizes as data sources documents such as digital
newspapers news, social media posts, YouTube videos, websites, and podcasts (see Figure 10).
36
teaching and learning and also, because of my academic background. My contact with the
English language as a learner started when I was 10 years old in a language course, in 1986,
and as a teacher, when I started teaching in language schools in 1996. In 2003, even though I
held a degree in Dentistry, completed in 2001, at UFS, and, at the time, I had already been
working as an English teacher for 7 years, I decided to start a degree in English at UFS. In the
period, between 2011 and 2020, when I worked as a pedagogical coordinator for Elementary
and Middle Years, in a bilingual school (Canadian education system) in Aracaju, I expanded
my contact with the English language by guiding the implementation of English programs:
Language Arts, grades 1 to 9, and also Science and Math, since they are subjects taught in
English in this institution. I realized my growing connection with the field of Education, which
led me to hold a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Education at the University of Winnipeg, in
2014. Upon my return to UFS, as a substitute professor at the Department of Modern Languages
and coordinator of subjects from the Modern Languages Department of the Distance Higher
Education Center, Centro de Educação Superior a Distância (CESAD), between 2017 and
2019, I taught subjects such as Written Expression in English I; English Language II, III, IV
and VIII, among others, and I worked as a tutor for English Language undergraduate students
at CESAD, advising them in the writing of their scientific articles as the final paper. Allied to
the challenges and experiences of my teaching practice, I also see as reasons for my interest in
the theme: the writing of my Master’s thesis in Education, whose title is Representations of
English teachers on technologies and their relationship with teaching practice, defended in
2020, in addition to my participation as a member of the study and research group Technologies,
Education and Applied Linguistics (TECLA), scenarios that constantly reinforce my interest in
the Education and Communication research lines; Languages and Technologies in Education;
Language and Society.
In the context of Complex Thinking, the relationship between subject and object is by
interdependence. This implies that the subject’s perception and understanding of the
phenomenon investigated do not seem disconnected. With reference to this epistemology and
methodology, the researcher is treated as a research participant. As a result, it is relevant to
describe my path since I started investigating this object as well as the in-depth look at it while
close investigation and interaction during collaborative writing. All that allowed me to view my
object of study from different perspectives (see Figure 11).
39
The credibility of this research was established from the onset of my doctoral journey,
through continuous guidance from my advisors, reflections stemming from discussions in our
research group meetings, and oral communications of the ongoing project at conferences,
seminars, and panels, as outlined in Appendixes I and II.
As theoretical bases to reference this study are Morin (2015), Petraglia (2020) and
Petraglia and Moraes (2022) for Complex Thinking. Bazerman (2023), Boa Sorte (2018),
Fischer (2021), Dibbell (2010), Christensen (2012), Kist (2005), Leu et al. (2016), Kalantzis
and Cope (2024) and MacArthur et al. (2016) as authors for writing. In the area of GenAI and
writing, Boa Sorte et al. (2021), Kalantzis and Cope (2024), dos Santos, Boa Sorte & de Oliveira
(Forthcoming). The theorists for GenAI and ChatGPT are Santaella (2023) and Wolfram
(2023). In the sphere of multiliteracies, the authors are Kalantzis, Cope and Pinheiro (2020),
Cope, Kalantzis and Searsmith (2020), Cope and Kalantzis (2000) and Kalantzis and Cope
(2023, 2024).
Methodologically, this study is described as qualitative because it emphasizes the
interconnected and emergent properties of human experiences. This qualitative research is
conducted in light of Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015) as epistemology and methodology in
order to pursue this path of uncertainty, innovation, provisionality, and randomness. This is a
documentary and bibliographic research as regards data sources and gathering procedures. The
data are documents selected on internet-based platforms, whose narratives address GenAI and
its relation with education and writing as well as ChatGPT and writing. In view of this, I present
Analytical Entwining integrated with GenAI (adapted from Boa Sorte et al., 2023; dos Santos;
Boa Sorte; de Oliveira, forthcoming) as the method of interpretation for this investigation.
While upholding ethics and scientific rigor, its flexible nature provides researchers with four
to-and-fro movements as they engage with data.
I continue this study presenting my methodological path in the following section. I
describe the characteristics of Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015), the epistemology and
methodology I follow, as well as the data gathering procedures and the method of analysis. In
section two, I narrate the change of course, considered inevitable from the Complex Thinking
perspective and given the current context of the object of my investigation, and also propose a
method of analysis integrated with GenAI: Analytical Entwining integrated with GenAI
(adapted from Boa Sorte et al., 2023; dos Santos; Boa Sorte; de Oliveira, forthcoming). In
section three, I present and discuss the theoretical constructs that helped me achieve the first
specific objective: to examine the approach to writing conveyed on internet-based platforms,
particularly after the launch of ChatGPT. In section four, I present and discuss the theoretical
41
constructs that helped me achieve the second specific objective: to explore educational,
pedagogical, and ethical issues related to the impact of AI-text generators, especially ChatGPT,
raised on internet-based platforms. Finally, in my final remarks section I present the concept of
the phenomenon of writing impacted by GenAI that emerged from this research conducted
through the lens of Complex Thinking principles (Morin, 2015). Referring to section one
epigraph, I pursue this path having in mind aspects Morin (2015) acknowledges as essential for
doing research: uncertainty is inherent to human existence and understanding; simple
explanations or models cannot apprehend realities; and the truth is not found in total
understanding, but perhaps in the recognition of the limitations of our knowledge.
42
SECTION 2
METHODOLOGICAL PATH6
6
Image generated using OpenAI’s DALL-E image generation tool on November 11, 2023. The prompt used for
generation was: “Generate an image that represents a researcher in her initial path of study. Her investigation
focuses on education, writing, artificial intelligence, and ChatGPT.”
43
2 METHODOLOGICAL PATH
Upon first examination, the term “complex” tends to lead to erroneous understanding.
The notion that ‘complexity’ primarily expresses our discomfort and confusion suggests that
the word carries a heavy semantic burden and encapsulates uncertainty and disorder. Complex
Thinking is an approach to understanding the world that acknowledges, embraces, and attempts
to comprehend the intricate web of relationships, interactions, and interdependencies that
constitute reality (Morin, 2015).
Complex Thinking stands in contrast to reductionist thinking, which simplifies and
separates phenomena into discrete, isolated parts, often neglecting the richness of connections
and the unpredictable dynamics that emerge from the whole. It rejects the oversimplification of
reality, highlighting that complexity cannot be reduced to a single law or simple idea. Instead,
he argues for acknowledging the multidimensional, intertwined nature of reality, which cannot
be fully apprehended by reductive thinking (Morin, 2015).
Although Complex Thinking does not offer a prescriptive solution for unexpected
events, this epistemology encourages alertness, responsibility, and intellectual rigor, reminding
us that changes are inevitable and should be anticipated. In accordance with what Morin (2015)
referred to in the epigraph of this section, the presence of elements such as randomness,
indetermination, and uncertainty is the absolute certainty in life. “In some ways, complexity
always relates to randomness” (Morin, 2015, p. 35). So, we need strategies in order to pursue
our research journey. It is not uncommon to mislead ourselves by running on autopilot and
performing planned actions to solve simplified issues with simplifying thinking. This is
essential in order to carry out research: steps planned to reach goals as long as random situations
do not arise during the course of the study. The need for strategies aligned with Complex
Thinking represents decisions and challenging choices leading to risky and unclear actions.
However, Complexity focuses on an initial point in an investigation, allowing for broader
actions that are less restricting and limiting, and simplifying perspectives.
This approach encompasses a range of principles, acknowledging the coexistence of
order and disorder as inherent to human essence and experience. Importantly, Complex
Thinking does not oppose clarity, order, or determinism. Nevertheless, what distinguishes this
epistemological and methodological foundation from reductive paradigms is the fact that these
three elements, while valuable, are seen as insufficient, since planning does not assure the
attainment of discovery, knowledge, or action.
45
What constitutes the reality of this study is the complex tangled web of relationships,
interactions, and interdependencies among writing, schools and education, AI-text generators,
and societal contexts represented by the phenomena of digital newspaper news, social media
posts, YouTube videos, podcasts, and websites. In consideration of the unpredictability and
transdisciplinary of this reality, I aim to apprehend the concept of the phenomenon of writing
impacted by the adoption of GenAI in societal contexts in the field of education in light of the
Complex Thinking to achieve the following purposes: to develop a concept of the phenomenon
of writing in the context of LLMs and GenAI; to reflect upon the impact of these technologies
on society and education; and to reflect upon how to write and how to teach writing.
7
Image generated using OpenAI’s DALL-E image generation tool on November 11, 2023. The prompt used for
generation was: “Generate more images taking this *previous prompt into account but also bearing in mind that
epistemology of Complex Thinking does not separate contexts in layers since it believes it is all connected like
systems that integrate with one another. This means it is hard to know when one context or system starts or ends”.
*Previous prompt: I’m a researcher in the area of education, languages and technologies and I’m writing a
scientific paper. I want to include an image in this paper that, in light of Complex Thinking (Edgar Morin), shows
I’m organizing a section of this paper starting from a macro contextualization of social, political and economic
contexts. Then, I focus my view on societal contexts in the field of education. So, I address AI algorithms and
Generative AI impacting elections, free press and democracy for my social, political, and economic contexts. In
addition, I focus on the impact of generative AI, Large Language Models on writing regarding assessment and
teaching.”
48
Embracing Complex Thinking implies that the nature of research should not be strictly
framed and linear, as it is based on dialogic, recursive and holographic principles, and the notion
of system. However, the research guiding questions are meant to be viewed as helpful to the
methodological procedures, enabling researchers to navigate through an investigation .
In light of Complex Thinking, the journey of a research is seen as one that unfolds while
one is walking. Therefore, where at any given moment, in response to emerging situations, there
might be a need for a new decision: to embark on a new path or to take a different fork in the
road (Morin; Motta; Ciurana, 2003).
When I started my doctoral program, LLMs were already accessible to the Brazilian
public. AI-writing assistants based on GPT-3 algorithms could be utilized temporarily at no
cost to the user. Although there were serious worries regarding ethical aspects (see Figure 14)
surrounding the adoption of AI platforms for text generation, they seemed to be preliminary
concerns considering what the media reported. Prior to the launch of ChatGPT, the topic
appeared to be in the initial phase, given the low frequency and quantity of media publications.
50
The article entitled “GPT-3: Will the world’s most powerful writing AI replace a
journalist?” was published approximately six months after the launch of GPT-3. Within this
publication, the model is portrayed as a groundbreaking advancement in the field of GenAI,
with significant implications for journalism and other professional fields. It highlighted the
prevalent fear that this technology might signal the end of the journalism profession. It took an
additional eight months for the Brazilian television media to discuss the topic on a national
scale (see Figure 15).
The news report is about a Canadian who participated in a project during the COVID
pandemic. The project, called December, used AI technologies to simulate exchanging
messages with his fiancée, who had passed away 8 years before this report. This news report
exposes the risks pointed out by specialists in the development of increasingly advanced AI and
questions the ethical limits of its use. The concerns seem to revolve around the ethical
implications and potential psychological effects of using AI to simulate interactions with
deceased individuals.
In 2021, I had defined my study goals and I was working on my research project, reading
the literature, designing the field research, and familiarizing with UFS’s Ethical Committee in
Research, Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa (CEP), updated ethical procedures. As a researcher, I
value the ethical aspects when conducting scientific research. Due to that, in that same year, I
submitted the research project to the Institutional Review Board of the Federal University of
Sergipe in June and only after its approval8, data collection was meant to begin. The approval
was given at the end of year 2021, enabling me to commence field research.
These plans were placed on hold after I was granted a PDSE CAPES scholarship. In
September 2022, I relocated to Richmond, Virginia (USA), to begin my “Sandwich” doctoral
program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) under the supervision of Prof. Dr.
Luciana C. de Oliveira. In consultation with my advisor, we decided to delay the field research
so I could experience this unique educational opportunity to the fullest and expand my
understanding of the object of my study.
During my interactions with faculty and students at the School of Education (VCU), I
frequently shared information about my research. Initially, responses were a combination of
surprise, curiosity, and confusion, as the theme was unfamiliar to those I engaged with. This
perception gradually shifted subsequent to the introduction of ChatGPT on November 30, 2022.
By December 2022, I faced a crucial decision regarding the need for financial support
to utilize a GPT-3 platform. This platform was essential for the continuation of my research
post the “Sandwich” program and the initiation of data collecting process. During data
collection, the participants of an academic writing course would use a platform or application
with the GPT-3 language model, such as ShortlyAI9. The selection of the natural language
model, the GPT-3 writing assistant, was pivotal due to its potential impact on the research
8
This research was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Federal University of Sergipe-UFS (CAAE
50114121.2.0000.5546) and received substantiated opinion n. 5.173.020.
9
ShortlyAI is a text generator application, in which the user just types in initial sentences and by clicking the
“write for me” button, the AI writer takes over the writing. Available at: [Link] Accessed
on: May 12 2021.
52
outcomes. This thinking process involved rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria to select the
most suitable AI writing assistant from the various options available in the market. The
selection of the platform posed a particular challenge due to the vast number of options available
and the changing criteria throughout the study.
In the context of selecting an AI text-generator, mind mapping proved instrumental. A
mind map visually organizes the selection criteria into color-coded branches (Buzan, 2024).
The green color corresponds to the criterion of the content model, indicating the GenAI’s ability
to handle various writing styles and formats. Following the clockwise direction, the pink branch
represents the types of accounts available—individual or group. Purple is used to denote the
version of the software, distinguishing between free and paid options, which is critical for
budget considerations. The gray highlights the company producing the technology, essential for
understanding the support and innovation behind the product. The need to select the most
advanced model is highlighted in the red branch. Finally, the blue branch represents the date of
launch, indicating the software’s currency and relevance in the fast-evolving field of AI (see
Figure 16).
This approach serves to clarify the decision-making process and also highlights the
strategic thinking involved. At the end of 2022, after progressing through many relevant steps
in developing my research, my advisor and I began to recognize the need to reconsider my
research trajectory.
This realization was further catalyzed by the substantial impact of ChatGPT, which
achieved 100 million users within just two months of its release. Additionally, the release of
53
GPT-4 by OpenAI on March 14, 2023, and the announcement of the potential launch of GPT-
5 during the same event, compelled us to reassess the research direction. These developments
highlighted the rapid advancement of GenAI technologies and their implications for my study.
Following these questions guided the redesign of my method. The process required time,
reflection, and alertness to new societal aspects influenced by the massive impact of GenAI
technologies in the field of education shown on internet-based platforms. Consequently, I found
it necessary to continue working with the Complex Thinking guiding questions to attain a
clearer understanding of my new path (see Figure 18).
55
Within the complex perspective, theory acts like a cognitive blueprint that leaves lasting
impressions, while the method requires strategy, initiative, invention, and artistry for effective
implementation (Morin; Motta; Ciurana, 2003). There is a recursive relationship between
method and theory: the method is derived from theory and, in turn, revitalizes the theory itself.
A theory that possesses complexity can maintain its intricate nature only through constant
intellectual recreation. Without continual innovation, such theories are at risk of degeneration
into oversimplification. Left unattended, theories tend to become flattened, losing their
multidimensionality and becoming static. From a complexity standpoint, theory is
indistinguishable from method; both are essential components of complex knowledge.
In light of Complex Thinking, and following a deep engagement with the guiding
questions of my research, the new design of my methodological path became more explicit (see
Figure 19). This mind map summarizes the study in terms of four methodological aspects: type
of research, research participant, data gathering, and data analysis (Gil, 2002).
This visual representation shows the change of course in data source towards a
documentary study motivated by the increasing presence of GenAI in the media, its rapid
advancement, and its impacts on writing and education. The documents selected for this
qualitative research are primarily sourced from internet-based platforms, with collection
commencing at the start of my doctoral program in September 2020. The first relevant
57
document addressing the theme was from the British digital newspaper, The Guardian. This
article, mentioned in the introduction (see Figure 6), appeared approximately three months after
OpenAI released the algorithm GPT-3 on June 11, 2020. Although my doctoral program had
not officially started at that time, I began examining the impacts of earlier versions like GPT-
2. What naturally transpired over these years was the accumulation of media that addressed the
object of my study. Using the note-taking tool Obsidian, I saved links to YouTube videos,
podcasts, websites, and digital newspaper articles. Additionally, I archived social media posts
using Instagram’s saved feature.
I refer to these documents as ‘screenshots of the reality I see’. They have become central
to interpreting the interconnections among writing, education, and GenAI technologies, all of
which are phenomena in their own right. Phenomena are seen as interactions representing
experiences and perceptions of reality (Ravagnoli, 2017). Therefore, these documents can also
be viewed as phenomena helping to apprehend the concept of writing by the adoption of GenAI
in societal contexts in the field of education. Having detailed the methodological path, the
subsequent subsection outlines the analytical method employed on the collected data.
In this subsection, I present the method of analysis for this study, Analytical Entwining
integrated with GenAI, adapted from Boa Sorte et al. (2023) and dos Santos, Boa Sorte & de
Oliveira (forthcoming). First, I explain Analytical Entwining (Boa Sorte et al., 2023), as it
forms the foundation for this analytical method. Next, I detail the data analysis strategies
developed and describe how I leveraged ChatGPT to engage with the research data.
Analytical Entwining (Boa Sorte et al., 2023) has emerged from research carried out by
members of the research group mentored by my advisor, Prof. Dr. Paulo Boa Sorte,
Technologies, Education, and Applied Linguistics (TECLA), from the Federal University of
Sergipe. This analytical perspective results from the interlacing between the theoretical-
methodological contributions of Teacher Research (Freeman, 1998) and Coding Process
(Auerbach; Silverstein, 2003). It addresses the need to expand the possibilities for instruments
and techniques for data gathering in Education and Applied Linguistics research, particularly
considering the potential of digital technologies, and more recently, AI.
This method consists of four steps named analytical movements (see Figure 20). These
movements serve as guiding stages that help researchers manage large datasets while
consistently upholding ethical standards and scientific rigor. The method’s flexible nature
58
allows for to-and-fro movements, enabling researchers to achieve study goals and respond to
research questions as they engage with data. Simultaneously, Analytical Entwining permits
researchers to reconsider and reshape their research trajectory in response to new insights and
reflections. During the process, carrying out analysis and redesigning the path tend to generate
anguish and uncertainty originating from data. Ultimately, this method positions the researcher
at the core of the study, inherently interconnected with the object of investigation.
Given these considerations, it is discernible how selecting Analytical Entwining (Boa
Sorte et al., 2023) naturally integrates into the epistemological and methodological approach
selected for this study. It properly aligns with Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015) through its
engagement with the subject-object relationship, a key epistemological principle in research
due to its methodological implications. Furthermore, this method of interpretation does not aim
to obtain results perceived as singular and decontextualized truths whose conclusions seek to
define a research object exhaustively. Conversely, it realizes the subject as “historically situated
within a specific context, and their perspective emerging from social constructions” (Boa Sorte
et al., 2023, p. 26). It also agrees with the notion that knowledge is changeable and certainties
are not permanent according to Complex Thinking (Petraglia; Moraes, 2022). Consequently,
these are the reasons why I integrate Analytical Entwining into the conduct of my investigation.
To describe this analytical approach, I refer to its visual representation (see Figure 20).
This image depicts, in a clockwise direction, the four to-and-fro movements intended to guide
researchers while interpreting data: locating relevant excerpts, recognizing repeated ideas,
categorizing revealed themes, and elaborating theoretical constructs (Boa Sorte et al., 2023).
The authors note that the choice of the term movements instead of steps is intended to highlight
the absence of linearity when an analysis is being carried out, as shown in the illustration.
59
The analysis begins with the researcher “locating relevant excerpts” in each document,
interview transcript, or any other data-gathering instruments. For the purposes of this research,
I focus on documents, as they are the primary source of data for this study. Documents are
stored in folders on a computer, although working with printed copies is also an option. During
this initial movement, the investigator highlights passages that contain ideas significant to the
research objectives or questions. This analytical movement involves decision-making, guided
by questions such as: Does this excerpt relate to my research objectives? Does it help me
understand the object of my study better? Does it clarify my research questions? Is this excerpt
relevant even if I cannot identify the reason? This last question is important to remind
researchers to either listen to the participants or be attentive to other meaningful aspects
regarding the object of study.
Following this, the researcher opens the file containing relevant excerpts from
Document 1 and compiles a new file termed the ‘list of repeated ideas’ for that document. The
researcher examines these selected relevant excerpts in detail, identifying passages similar to
the initial relevant excerpt aiming at “recognizing repeated ideas”. These findings are then
highlighted, copied, and consolidated into the repeated ideas file. This process is replicated for
each document, forming the initial building blocks for developing a theoretical narrative.
60
The list of repeated ideas from all documents is organized into a single file, known as
the ‘macro list of ideas’. This list serves as the foundation for the thematic organization of data.
The movement, “categorizing revealed themes”, involves grouping recurring ideas into
coherent categories. This third stage starts with an initial theme, with each theme representing
a cluster of recurring ideas. The researcher identifies conceptual similarities among the repeated
ideas, forming the basis of each theme. This basis is derived from both literature review and
data analysis, as the researcher gains insight into each document. When naming themes, the
researchers are advised to avoid jargon and prefer titles that clearly express the union of the
repeated ideas for easy understanding.
Throughout the four to-and-fro analytical movements, the researcher continuously
reflects on how each element relates to the research questions and objectives, while also
considering significant outlier information from the documents. The researcher’s cognitive
style determines the approach mostly described as a subjective and interpretive process since it
does not impose strict rules for identifying relevance or grouping ideas. These are essential
reminders for the conclusion of the analysis when the themes are grouped with the objective of
“elaborating theoretical constructs”, an example of a Complex movement.
To exemplify the application of Analytical Entwining, I analyze documents, including
digital newspaper articles published after November 30, 2022, the release date of ChatGPT.
The selection criteria for these documents include alignment with research goals and
publications within the first two months post-release, a period chosen due to this AI chatbot’s
unprecedented global impact, evidenced by reaching a user base of 100 million in record time
(see Figure 21).
61
Considering these inclusion criteria, I begin the analysis by examining eight digital
newspaper articles (see Table 1), identifiable through color-coded excerpts (see Tables 2 and
3). Prior to initiating the analytical movements, it is essential to have in mind the general and
specific objectives to be achieved in the investigation. The probability of becoming entangled
in the abundance of data is a concern that Freeman (1988) and Auerbach and Silverstein (2003)
point out. Therefore, the general objective of my research is to apprehend the concept of the
phenomenon of writing impacted by the adoption of GenAI in societal contexts in the field of
education. Additionally, the specific objectives are to examine the approach to writing
conveyed on internet-based platforms, particularly after the launch of ChatGPT; and to explore
educational, pedagogical, and ethical issues related to the impact of AI-text generators,
especially ChatGPT, raised on internet-based platforms.
62
AI-assisted plagiarism? ChatGPT bot says it has an Dec. 31, 2022 The Guardian
answer for that (Alex Hern)
Don’t ban ChatGPT in schools. Teach with it. (Kevin Jan. 12, 2023 The New York
Roose) Times
ChatGPT: student builds app to sniff out AI-written Jan. 13, 2023 BBC News
essays (Nadine Yousif)
Source: created by the author (2023).
I start the analysis by the initial contact with the data when “locating relevant excerpts”,
considering the objectives of this research. I number each of my documents and begin the
second analytical movement by choosing the idea number one and continue “recognizing
repeated ideas” both in document one and in the other seven documents. The idea number one,
“It is an AI chatbot phenomenon […]” guides the identification of other terms that express the
content of the selected initial idea (see Table 2).
The repeated ideas in Table 2, expressed by words highlighted in bold and represented
by the excerpts: “[...] AI chatbot phenomenon”; “[...] It’s already powerful and useful – and
could radically change the way we write online […]”; “ChatGPT is a freakishly capable tool
that landed in their midst with no warning […]”; “[…]AI is here to stay. This is the future […]”
address ChatGPT’s capabilities to generate texts and its reactions in societal contexts. By
recognizing these repeated ideas, I categorized the first theme, entitled writing is impacted by
GenAI technologies, especially ChatGPT. The analytical movements of identifying a second
repeated idea continues (see Table 3).
The repeated ideas in Table 3, expressed by words highlighted in bold and also
represented by the following excerpts: “[...] One academic… described it as writing with the
style and knowledge of a smart 13-year-old... the system also makes a fantastic partner
[...]follow”; “Silicon Valley firm insists its new text generator, which writes human-sounding
essays […]”; “[…] a free online chatbot that can expertly write almost anything, from English
essays and news articles, to meal plans and computer code [...]” exemplify various possible uses
64
knowledge and complex systems as mutable and random implying strategies play a crucial role
in a research journey (Morin, 2015; Petraglia; Moraes, 2022).
Through the lens of Complex Thinking, I describe “screenshots of the reality I see” as a
strategy in my research path. This term refers to the gathered documents used to interpret the
interconnections among the phenomena of writing, education, GenAI technologies, and societal
contexts represented by the phenomena of digital newspapers and website articles, social media
posts, YouTube videos, and podcasts. This term highlights how perceptions of reality are
subjective and multifaceted, including personal experiences, societal constructs, and cognitive
biases. Using the metaphor “screenshots” suggests that an individual’s perception of reality
captures a momentary, partial view, and is visible at a specific time. I understand this aligns
well with the principles of Complex Thinking because it acknowledges that our understanding
of reality is always limited and constructed from specific viewpoints.
Furthermore, among the numerous documents I collected over the four years of this
investigation, 60 were selected to be analyzed. Considering the abundance of data gathered,
which is a major concern for researchers (Freeman, 1988; Auerbach; Silverstein, 2003), I
propose integrating GenAI technology into the Analytical Entwining movements. This
integration serves as the second strategy to engage with data in my research journey.
Building on this, incorporating a GenAI platform represents a strategic approach to
enhance data interpretation, leveraging the capabilities of the ChatGPT/GPT-4 model (OpenAI,
2023c). My collaboration with ChatGPT facilitated the execution of the four analytical
movements across two distinct human-machine interactions. The first interaction was designed
to reach specific objective No. 1: to examine the approach to writing conveyed on internet-
based platforms, particularly after the launch of ChatGPT. The second interaction aimed to
explore educational, pedagogical, and ethical issues related to the impact of AI-text generators,
especially ChatGPT, raised on internet-based platforms. In both interactions, ChatGPT
generated theoretical constructs, assisting in meeting the general objective of this research: to
apprehend the concept of the phenomenon of writing impacted by the adoption of GenAI in
societal contexts in the field of education.
I now introduce Analytical Entwining integrated with GenAI (adapted from Boa Sorte
et al., 2023; dos Santos; Boa Sorte; de Oliveira, forthcoming). This method of analysis requires
careful prompt engineering to maximize the potential of the GenAI platform. I designed four
specific prompts to conduct the analysis, each tailored to address individual characteristics of
the analytical movements required for this method (see Figure 22).
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For this purpose, I utilized the Prompt Creation Reference Chart, which outlines three
key elements crucial for constructing effective prompts: “(1) the prompt’s author: background
information, (2) the main characteristics of the request: design, target audience, and theme, (3)
and the purpose of the prompt: what the prompt is for, what the user wants to achieve” (dos
Santos; Boa Sorte; de Oliveira, forthcoming). This Reference Chart is a principle to promote
the creation of well-structured initial prompts. As outlined by this principle, the request
component — the second element — can be customized according to the specific context, thus
enabling GenAI users to craft their prompts more effectively. To align with the research
requirements, I modified this component by replacing Target Audience with Coding Criteria.
This alteration enables researchers to incorporate specific coding criteria essential for
conducting data analysis (see Figure 23).
Source: adapted from dos Santos, Boa Sorte & de Oliveira (Forthcoming).
For ethical considerations, the formulation of prompt No. 1 was developed without
disclosing the research objectives to ChatGPT, guided by the Prompt Creation Reference Chart
1. This first prompt, as detailed in Table 5, serves as the foundational basis for the subsequent
three prompts adopted in Analytical Entwining integrated with GenAI.
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I am a PhD candidate researching in the area of education, languages, and technologies. I am currently
focusing on coding the collected data. Generate a list of excerpts that address the theme of research, a list
of the repeated ideas based on these excerpts, and a table format, connecting the repeated ideas with each
excerpt. The research focuses on generative artificial intelligence in education, AI-text generator
platforms, and writing. This task needs to follow some criteria: the excerpts must come from the documents
I uploaded, the excerpts selected must retain the exact language used by the authors of the documents,
the list of the repeated ideas must be based on the excerpts, and the excerpts selected must align with the
research theme. Generate these lists bearing in mind the purposes: to locate relevant excerpts that address
the theme of this research, and to recognize repeated ideas from those excerpts.
Source: adapted from dos Santos, Boa Sorte & de Oliveira (Forthcoming).
I am a PhD candidate researching in the area of education, languages, and technologies. I am currently
focusing on coding the collected data. Generate a list of passages that address the theme of research, a list
of the repeated ideas based on these passages, and a table format, connecting the repeated ideas with each
passage. The research focuses on generative artificial intelligence in education, AI-text generator
platforms, and writing. This task needs to follow some criteria: the passages must come from the images I
uploaded, the passages selected must retain the exact language used by the authors of the documents, the
list of the repeated ideas must be based on the passages, and the passages selected must align with the
research theme. Generate these lists bearing in mind the purposes: to locate relevant passages that address
the theme of this research, and to recognize repeated ideas from those passages.
From the document titled "Should we let students use ChatGPT? TED Talk," here's a structured analysis for
your research:
Excerpts Addressing the Theme
1. Excerpt 1: "This TED Talk discusses the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT in educational
settings and debates whether their use should be encouraged or restricted."(#4C Should we let
stude…)
2. Excerpt 2: "The presenter argues that while AI can significantly enhance learning, it also raises
concerns about academic integrity and the development of critical thinking skills."(#4C Should we
let stude…)
3. Excerpt 3: "Examples are given of schools that have successfully integrated ChatGPT to improve
engagement and personalize learning, highlighting positive outcomes."(#4C Should we let stude…)
4. Excerpt 4: "Concerns are also voiced about students becoming overly reliant on AI for homework
and assignments, potentially hindering their learning process."(#4C Should we let stude…)
Excerpt 5: "The talk concludes with a call for educational institutions to develop clear guidelines and policies
that maximize the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks."(#4C Should we let stude…)
Repeated Ideas Based on Excerpts
This analysis provides insights into the complex dynamics of using AI like ChatGPT in educational contexts,
exploring the balance between leveraging technological advancements for enhanced learning and ensuring
that students remain the primary agents in their educational journeys.
Source: created by the author in collaboration with ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2023c).
This table displays the responses of the ChatGPT/GPT-4 model (OpenAI, 2023c) to
prompt No. 1 after completing the first two analytical movements on text document 4C, a
YouTube video transcript. Initially, the model generates a list of five excerpts that address the
outlined theme of this study. Then, it produces a second list including the three ideas recurring
within these excerpts. The second analytical movement concludes with a table where each row
connects a thematic idea with its corresponding excerpts from the document.
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Once all document types are individually coded, the analysis can proceed to the third
analytical movement: “categorizing revealed themes”. This phase involves grouping recurring
ideas into coherent categories. Such thematic organization of data is supported by the “macro
list of ideas”, which not only facilitates this process but is also indispensable for laying the
foundational groundwork necessary for generating themes. Although this procedure is part of
the “recognizing repeated ideas” movement, it cannot be executed in isolation during prompts
No. 1 and No. 2. This is because it involves compiling a list of repeated ideas identified across
all document types, texts and images. Consequently, the organization of a “macro list of ideas”
is incorporated into the “design” element in prompt No. 3 as specified in the Prompt Creation
Reference Chart 3 (see Figure 25).
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Source: adapted from dos Santos, Boa Sorte & de Oliveira (Forthcoming).
The final key component of the “design” element tailored for the Analytical Entwining
integrated with GenAI is the “coding criteria”. Prompt Creation Reference Chart 3 outlines how
ChatGPT should implement the “categorizing revealed themes” movement in accordance with
Analytical Entwining, a foundation for the method of analysis. This chart also specifies the
language to optimize responses from the LLM. Language choice in prompt engineering
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represents a major and challenging requirement, as demonstrated in prompt No. 3 (see Table
8).
I am a PhD candidate researching in the area of education, languages, and technologies. I am currently
focusing on coding the collected data. Generate a ‘macro list of ideas’, a comprehensive list of the recurring
ideas identified across the various lists of repeated ideas from all the documents, and a table titled
‘revealed themes’ grouping the repeated ideas into coherent categories. The research focuses on
generative artificial intelligence in education, AI-text generator platforms, and writing. This task needs to
follow some criteria: the ‘macro list of ideas’ represents a comprehensive list of the recurring ideas across
the lists of the repeated ideas from all the previously uploaded documents, each idea of the ‘macro list of
ideas’ must be expressed as a clause, the vocabulary used to commence each idea from the ‘macro list of
ideas’ must preferably begin with the term ‘writing’ or, alternatively, with any derivative of its root, such
as ‘writer’ or ‘written’, either the term ‘writing’ or any derivative of its root must integrate the subject
of the clause, the ‘macro list of ideas’ forms the basis for the revealed themes, the themes originate from
grouping these repeated ideas into coherent categories, the revealed themes represent conceptual
similarities among these repeated ideas, the vocabulary for each theme must avoid jargon and must use
titles that clearly express the union of the repeated ideas for easy understanding, each ‘theme’ must be
expressed as a clause, the vocabulary used to commence each theme must preferably begin with the term
‘writing’ or, alternatively, with any derivative of its root, such as ‘writer’ or ‘written’, either the term
‘writing’ or any derivative of its root must integrate the subject of the clause, and the themes must align
with the research theme. Generate these lists bearing in mind the purposes: to organize a ‘macro list of ideas’
repeated across the documents , and to categorize ‘revealed themes’ from the macro list of ideas.
The guidelines are developed to help structure and articulate ideas and themes derived
from previously analyzed documents. They emphasize the consistent employment of specific
vocabulary, especially derivatives of “writing”, to initiate each idea and theme. Furthermore,
the guidelines advocate for the use of clear, jargon-free language and ensure that these themes
align directly with the main research theme, promoting coherence and ease of comprehension.
After collaborating with ChatGPT using prompt No. 3, the model successfully categorized four
themes. The results were organized into two lists and one table, illustrating the connections
between the “revealed themes” and the “macro list of ideas” (see Table 9).
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ChatGPT
To align with your research on generative artificial intelligence in education, AI-text generator platforms, and
writing, I will create a ‘macro list of ideas’ and group these ideas into ‘revealed themes’. Each entry will be
crafted as a clause with ‘writing’ or its derivatives as the subject, adhering to the specified criteria to ensure
clarity and relevance to the overarching research theme.
Revealed Themes
Writing processes are being Writing is enhanced through AI by expediting processes and expanding
expedited by AI creative dimensions.
Writing’s creative dimensions are Writing is enhanced through AI by expediting processes and expanding
expanded by AI creative dimensions.
Writing integrity is being Writing integrity is safeguarded by AI tools ensuring ethical practices.
safeguarded by AI tools
Writing tools are becoming more Writing becomes more interactive and accessible through AI
interactive technologies.
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Writing’s appeal is enhanced Writing becomes more interactive and accessible through AI
through AI platforms technologies.
Writing education is evolving with Writing education evolves with AI providing personalized learning
AI experiences and extending global reach.
Writing’s global reach is extended Writing education evolves with AI providing personalized learning
by AI experiences and extending global reach.
These themes provide a structured overview of how AI impacts writing, aligning with your research focus on
generative AI in education, AI-text generator platforms, and writing. This approach ensures clarity and
cohesiveness in presenting your findings.
Source: created by the author in collaboration with ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2023c).
This table presents the responses of the ChatGPT/GPT-4o model (OpenAI, 2023c) to
prompt No. 3, after analyzing 30 documents selected to achieve specific objective 1. The model
generates a ‘macro list’ of seven recurring ideas from these text and image documents.
Following this, ChatGPT categorized these ideas into four themes, listing them and identifying
each connected idea. The third analytical movement culminates in a table where each row
connects a revealed theme with its corresponding macro ideas from the documents. My
collaboration with ChatGPT concludes in the fourth movement: “elaborating theoretical
constructs”. In this phase, ChatGPT connects the “revealed themes” and generates these
constructs via prompt No. 4, as guided by Prompt Creation Reference Chart 4 (see Figure 26).
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Source: adapted from dos Santos, Boa Sorte & de Oliveira (Forthcoming).
With Prompt Creation Reference Chart 4, I present the final key element of prompt
engineering in Analytical Entwining integrated with GenAI. This component refers to the
“purpose” of the prompt, which details “what the prompt is for” and “what the user wants to
achieve”; note that this may vary in number. In this study, all the “purposes” inform each
analytical movement in every prompt and are described using consistent terminology that
matches the analytical movements, as demonstrated in prompt No. 4 (see Table 10).
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I am a PhD candidate researching in the area of education, languages, and technologies. I am currently
focusing on coding the collected [Link] a list of the ‘theoretical constructs’, grouping the ‘revealed
themes’ into coherent categories and a table format, connecting the grouped themes with each
[Link] research focuses on generative artificial intelligence in education, AI-text generator
platforms, and writing. This task needs to follow some criteria: the ‘theoretical constructs’ represent the
conclusion of the coding, the ‘theoretical constructs’ originate from grouping the themes into coherent
categories, the ‘theoretical constructs’ represent conceptual similarities among the ‘revealed themes’,
each ‘theoretical construct’ must be expressed as a clause, the vocabulary used to commence each
‘theoretical construct’ must preferably begin with the term ‘writing’ or, alternatively, with any derivative
of its root, such as ‘writer’ or ‘written’, either the term ‘writing’ or any derivative of its root must
integrate the subject of the clause, and these ‘theoretical constructs’ must align with the research theme.
Generate these lists bearing in mind the purpose: to elaborate ‘theoretical constructs’ establishing
connections among the ‘revealed themes’.
Prompt No. 4 also exemplifies the challenges and importance of language choice in
“coding criteria”, as previously discussed in prompt No. 3. The guidelines outline methods for
structuring theoretical constructs that summarize research findings. They highlight the
consistent use of specific terminology related to “writing” to initiate each construct and require
that these constructs be clearly phrased and aligned with the main research theme. The
constructs themselves are developed by grouping related themes, thus emphasizing their
conceptual links, as demonstrated in Table 11.
ChatGPT
To create theoretical constructs that encapsulate the revealed themes from your research, we will group the
themes into coherent categories, ensuring each construct starts with "writing" or its derivatives as the subject.
These constructs will summarize the findings and establish clear connections among the themes, aligning with
your research focus on generative artificial intelligence in education, AI-text generator platforms, and writing.
Theoretical Constructs
Writing integrity is maintained through AI-driven Writing integrity is safeguarded by AI tools ensuring
ethical safeguards. ethical practices.
This final table displays the responses of the ChatGPT/GPT-4o model (OpenAI, 2023c)
to prompt No. 4, following the completion of the fourth analytical movement, “elaborating
theoretical constructs”. Initially, the model revisits the “revealed themes”. Although not
required by the “design” element of Prompt Creation Reference Chart 4, this repetition aids the
researcher in monitoring the process. Subsequently, the model generates a list of three
theoretical constructs, specifying which themes were grouped together to form each construct
and providing a brief description of each. The last analytical movement concludes with a table
where each row links a theoretical construct to its corresponding revealed themes from the
documents.
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In studies in which the research data contains only one document type, the researcher
may choose either prompt No. 1 for text documents or prompt No. 2 for image documents. This
choice is based on the fact that both prompts encompass the initial and subsequent analytical
movements of Analytical Entwining integrated with GenAI.
It is noteworthy that ChatGPT has the capacity to concurrently handle a maximum of
ten documents. Nonetheless, a deliberate choice was made to adhere to the principles of
Analytical Entwining, which serve as the foundational framework for this analytical method.
Consequently, commands were issued to ChatGPT and documents were sequentially uploaded.
The interaction with the model unfolded in two distinct phases, each tailored to each
specific objective. Initially, text document 1A was uploaded and ChatGPT was instructed with
prompt No. 1 until completion of this document type, followed by the commencement of work
on each image document type. Subsequently, image document 2A was uploaded, and ChatGPT
was directed with prompt No. 2 until completion of this document category. This
methodological procedure was adopted after preliminary tests with the model, which
demonstrated the efficacy of overseeing the coding process and evaluating ChatGPT’s
responses in alignment with the coding criteria of Analytical Entwining integrated with GenAI.
Despite its enhanced capabilities, GPT-4 shares certain limitations with its predecessors,
such as the potential to “hallucinate” facts and commit reasoning errors (OpenAI, 2023a). In
this research, continuous monitoring was imperative due to the occurrence of “hallucinations”
or erroneous outputs during the interactions with ChatGPT. “Hallucinations”, in the context of
LLMs, refer to instances where the model generates factually incorrect or misleading
information presented as truth, which can compromise the integrity of data processing and
output. Therefore, vigilant oversight during human-AI collaboration is essential to ensure the
ethical, efficient, and responsible use of these AI text generators. This proactive approach
facilitates the mitigation of risks associated with AI-generated content, reinforcing the
importance of human oversight in managing and correcting AI behavior, encompassing
strategies from rigorous human review to providing additional contextual grounding for
responses.
In this study, the 60 documents analyzed were selected based on the following inclusion
criteria: the trajectory of technological advancements in ChatGPT and this research specific
objectives. Regarding ChatGPT, I considered five intervals that refer to the time between events
or milestones defined by specific technological releases of OpenAI’s LLMs (see Figure 27).
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The initial interval is associated with the release of GPT-3, representing a milestone in
the field of NLP owing to its unprecedented capacity in generating human-like text through
extensive pre-training. The subsequent interval begins with the launch of ChatGPT, a
groundbreaking variant of GPT-3 known as GPT-3.5. This version introduced enhanced
conversational capabilities, allowing for more coherent and context-aware interactions.
Additionally, this period is notable for ChatGPT reaching 100 million users within two months,
highlighting its widespread acceptance and applicability.
The third interval starts on March 14, 2023, with the public release of GPT-4. This
model has introduced noticeable improvements in text comprehension and generation,
delivering more precise and sophisticated responses. GPT-4 also marks the beginning of the
fourth interval on September 25, 2023, with OpenAI’s announcement of the model’s
multimodal capabilities. These developments signal a transition to integrating voice and image
capabilities, enhancing the interface to support vocal interactions and enabling users to provide
visual inputs to ChatGPT for more intuitive communication.
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The fifth and final interval begins on May 13, 2024, with the introduction of GPT-4o,
showcasing the latest advancements in deep learning to date. The letter “o” stands for omni —
suggesting OpenAI’s intention to achieve omnipresence — with capabilities such as human-
like response times in conversations and significant improvements in handling non-English
language text. These intervals compose the “screenshots of the reality I see”, defined in
accordance with the Complex Thinking epistemology.
Concerning the second inclusion criterion, documents were selected based on their
relevance to each specific objective. To achieve the first objective — to examine the approach
to writing conveyed on internet-based platforms, particularly after the launch of ChatGPT —
the first 30 documents focusing on GenAI and writing in educational contexts were selected.
Additionally, to address the second specific objective, another 30 other documents were chosen
for data analysis. The selection was influenced by the three main contexts: pedagogical
(associated with methods or theory of teaching writing), ethical (concerning beliefs, what is
morally right or wrong), and educational issues (related to the impact of AI text generators,
especially ChatGPT, as discussed internet-based platforms). These criteria are depicted in
Figure 28, the final image of this section, in which I also summarize my methodological path.
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Source: created by the author based on Boa Sorte et al. (2023), Morin (2015), and Petraglia and
Moraes (2022).
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This image depicts the two strategies implemented to achieve my research objectives.
The first strategy, “screenshots of the reality I see”, consists of screenshots numbered from 1 to
5. These numbers indicate predefined intervals representing the technological advancement
trajectory of ChatGPT. Each screenshot is labeled with a combination of a letter and a number
and contains two documents. Documents labeled with letters A, B, and C relate to specific
objective number one and the holographic principle, while letters D, E, and F align with specific
objective number two. This second objective engages with the three principles of Complex
Thinking: recursive, holographic, and dialogic. The “screenshots of the reality I see” symbolize
the interconnectedness of the phenomena investigated in this study: writing, education, GenAI
technologies, and the principles of Complex Thinking. The second strategy integrates
ChatGPT’s capabilities into the four analytical movements via prompt engineering. A collection
of 60 documents, including Instagram posts, website articles, digital newspaper articles,
podcasts, and YouTube videos, was analyzed using Analytical Entwining integrated with
GenAI. This analysis resulted in the generation of eight theoretical constructs, which I discuss
in the subsequent two sections.
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SECTION 3
10
Image generated using OpenAI’s DALL-E image generation tool on June 28, 2024. The prompt used for
generation was: “I am a PhD candidate researching in the area of education, languages, and technologies. I am
currently focusing on coding the collected data. Generate an image that depicts ChatGPT working on data
analysis. The research focuses on generative artificial intelligence in education, AI-text generator platforms,
and writing. This task needs to follow some criteria: the images must show the data: Instagram posts, Digital
newspaper articles, Podcasts, and YouTube videos, the image must align with the research theme. Generate an
image bearing in mind the purposes: to showcase a representation of analytical movements carried by
ChatGPT”.
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This section opens with a summary of the four themes that were essential in developing
the constructs discussed here (see Figure 29) 11. In this analytical path, considering the
“screenshots of the reality I see” in light of Complex Thinking principles (Morin, 2015)
symbolize the interconnectedness of the phenomena investigated in this research: writing,
education, and GenAI technologies.
11
Following the conventions by Auerbach and Silverstein (2003), theoretical constructs are written in capital
letters and revealed themes are written in italics.
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I initiate the presentation and analysis of the research findings, directly addressing the
first specific objective of the study. It refers to writing as a phenomenon, given that it is a life
experience (Ravagnoli, 2017), interconnected with societal aspects, and recognizes writing as
an inherently social practice. This understanding is grounded in the holographic principle of
Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015), which acknowledges the interrelatedness and
interdependence of all components within a system. The documents analyzed in this study —
YouTube videos, podcasts, website and digital newspaper articles, and social media posts —
serve as bridges, capturing “screenshots of the reality I see” that exemplify this
interconnectedness.
Following this principle, every component of the writing process is embedded within a
larger societal context, reinforcing that no element stands alone. The interpretation of words
and texts depends heavily on their contextual use, underscoring the necessity to view them
within their societal, cultural, and knowledge frameworks. By employing a cognitive
framework that fosters connections among seemingly unrelated elements, writing studies are
positioned as integral to broader educational and societal contexts. Thus, education must adapt
to societal and technological changes that impact writing, reflecting the holographic principle
where each individual embodies societal aspects through language, culture, and norms (Morin,
2000).
This section is divided into three subsections, each focusing on a different theoretical
construct elaborated through the movements of Analytical Entwining integrated with GenAI
and in collaboration with ChatGPT. For each construct, the discussion begins by outlining its
foundational themes. Subsequent analysis involves citing scholars who comment on these
constructs, using excerpts from the literature and research data to deepen the discussion. This
approach is systematically applied to all three constructs.
12
Following the conventions by Auerbach and Silverstein (2003), theoretical constructs are written in capital
letters.
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advanced technologies. This construct emphasizes the transformation of the writing process
through increased efficiency, creativity, and enhanced user engagement. The merging of these
themes underscores a shift towards a more dynamic and accessible writing environment
facilitated by AI innovations.
Building on the ways GenAI fundamentally alters the nature of writing, examining this
construct through the lens of Complex Thinking principles (Morin, 2015) offers deeper insight
into the systemic changes within this domain. AI text generators continuously refine and evolve
through iterative feedback loops from user interactions, demonstrating the recursive principle
by reflecting each layer of improvement back onto the system, leading to progressively
sophisticated writing aids. Furthermore, each AI tool, while part of a larger system,
encapsulates the entire functionality of the writing process but contributes uniquely to specific
aspects like grammar enhancement and style personalization.
This encapsulation demonstrates the holographic principle, as every component
contains the whole in its functionality, mirroring the entire writing ecosystem. This refers to
Morin’s view, in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts because each part contains
specific characteristics that are not apparent when considered only as part of the whole. The
ongoing interactions between these AI tools and the users create a dialogic relationship,
fostering co-evolutionary development in writing practices and illustrating the dialogic
principle. This complex interplay of components reflects the system as a whole and highlights
how each part contributes to and is influenced by the system, underscoring the notion of system.
Together, these principles illustrate a sophisticated convergence of technology and human
creativity, reshaping the landscape of written communication.
Technological advancements have historically reshaped the nature of writing. The
transition from paper pages to digital screens signifies a revolutionary change, driven by the
continuous development of technological devices (Kist, 2005). Further emphasizing this shift,
the profound disruption of the Internet has altered several elements of society (Christensen,
2012), including the nature of writing, particularly its increasing use for online communication
(Leu et al., 2016). Both in research and classroom settings, the implications of these changes
regarding the nature of writing in an online world, though still emerging, are being reconsidered
and expanded (Christensen, 2012; Kist, 2005; Leu et al., 2016). Consequently, a redefinition of
texts and practices is proposed. This involves a pedagogical approach in which diverse forms
of communication and meaning-making—visual, auditory, spatial, behavioral, and gestural
modes—are acknowledged. It represents a transition from literacy (in the singular) to literacies
(in the plural) (Kalantzis; Cope; Pinheiro, 2020).
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expression and compelling us to rethink the concepts of authorship and creativity. This ongoing
evolution highlights that writing is not a static achievement but continues to change
dynamically in response to technological advancements. Adopting the term “evolution” implies
understanding that it signifies “not quality grades, nor [...] stages in a model of ‘writing
evolution’ (which does not exist). They are simply different forms that accommodate different
linguistic and social needs as they arise” (Fischer, 2021, p. 329).
GenAI substantially improves the writing process by enhancing efficiency and
broadening creative aspects through a variety of innovative applications. GenAI-driven tools
like ChatGPT and other LLMs streamline the writing process by reducing the time required to
complete tasks and improving the quality of output. For instance, in a study involving midlevel
professional writing tasks, the use of ChatGPT decreased the average time taken by 40% and
increased output quality by 18%, demonstrating major productivity gains and enjoyment of the
writing process for users (Noy; Zhang, 2023). The screenshot 3B (see Figure 31) also illustrates
the advancements in AI-powered content creation, as ChatGPT enables the creation of diverse
digital content in a matter of seconds, reshaping user interactions across multiple platforms.
The illustration offers a glimpse into how GenAI, particularly through technologies like
ChatGPT, enhances content production efficiency. This is evidenced by its capacity to produce
articles, social media updates, and various other forms of digital content rapidly and effectively.
Users’ comments highlighting the positive impact and growing reliance on GenAI applications
reflect the enthusiasm for new technology and its practical benefits in daily digital interactions.
However, these views contrast with many opposing and skeptical opinions arguing many
responses. This duality aligns with a historical narrative of responses, where new technology is
often met with either enchantment or fear (Lemos, 2013). This often leads to neglect ethical
concerns, dependency issues, and the potential decline in critical thinking due to excessive
reliance on AI.
In examining these phenomena, the principles of Complex thinking (Morin, 2015)
emerge as a dynamic network where elements interact in intricate and interdependent ways,
leading to the emergence of new properties. I first identify the holographic principle because
the influence of GenAI on content production reflects the intricate whole within each part,
where each instance of GenAI use encapsulates the broader system’s characteristics. Secondly,
the recursive principle is expressed by the efficacy of GenAI technologies like ChatGPT
involving repeated cycles of feedback and adaptation, where outcomes inform ongoing
improvements and user behaviors.
Thirdly, the dialogic principle emerges through the continuous interaction and
negotiation between human users and GenAI systems, fostering a dynamic interplay that shapes
content creation and digital practices. The dialogic principle is also highlighted by the
contrasting views within the community that uses AI text generators. The enthusiastic embrace
of these platforms for practical benefits is in constant dialogue with skeptical views that caution
against potential downsides, such as ethical neglect and reduced critical thinking. This principle
emphasizes the importance of ongoing conversations and multiple viewpoints that shape the
understanding and evolution of AI technologies.
Lastly, the notion of system is crucial, recognizing that GenAI operates within a
complex, interconnected network of technologies, users, and educational practices, each
influencing and being influenced by the other. These principles state the need for an integrative
approach to understanding and responding to the complexities introduced by GenAI in content
production.
Similarly, LLMs utilized in scientific writing possess the capability to efficiently
produce text of superior quality at a rapid pace. It is crucial, however, to carefully consider
ethical aspects, including the impact on employment opportunities and the risk of disseminating
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inaccurate or deceptive information, and take appropriate measures to mitigate these concerns
(Kammer et al., 2023).
Beyond efficiency, GenAI also extends the creative dimensions of writing. For example,
AI has the capability to create new compositions from existing images and aid artists in
transcending the constraints of the human mind, thereby stimulating novel forms of creativity
and innovative designs (Dawood, 2023). In creative writing, AI’s NLP abilities can propose
new content and ideas, cultivating a “machine-in-the-loop” strategy that assists writers in
discovering new creative pathways, despite potential variations in its impact on creativity
among users (Plate; Hutson, 2022). Additionally, the emergence of writing robots capable of
managing the entire content creation process — from selection to publication — showcases
AI’s potential to industrialize and enhance article production, significantly elevating creative
efficiency (Li; Zhang, 2020).
GenAI reshapes creative practices by acting as a filter and gatekeeper, integrating
diverse information sources and mediating between human activity and these sources, which
can lead to the development of novel ideas, but reduce the qualitative diversity of inspiration
(Atkinson; Barker, 2023). These discussions, highlighted in the screenshot 5B (see Figure 32),
emphasize the popular desire for AI to serve as an assistance in mundane chores, ensuring that
humans can reserve their time and mental energy for more creative pursuits like art and writing.
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The image captures key sentiments from social media, emphasizing the role of AI as a
supportive tool rather than a replacement for human creativity. It reflects a broader societal
conversation on preserving human-centric tasks, particularly those involving creativity, while
allowing AI to handle routine tasks like dishwashing and laundry. This distinction clarifies
public expectations and envisions a future where GenAI improves our daily lives by taking over
ordinary tasks, enabling deeper involvement in rewarding and creative activities.
The integration of GenAI in writing also extends to addressing writer’s block, where
LLMs can serve as a conversational partner, mimicking the benefits of talking to others, helping
writers navigate through creative blocks, and maintaining the writer’s authentic voice (Gilburt,
2023; Jacob; Tate, 2023).
In the light of Morin’s (2015) Complex Thinking, in this dynamic network, AI interacts
with various elements of the writing process—such as routine tasks, creative methods, and
content improvement strategies—in intricate and interdependent ways. This interaction fosters
the emergence of new properties and behaviors, including enhanced efficiency and expanded
creative potential, thereby extending the boundaries of human creativity (Dawood, 2023;
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Gilburt, 2023; Jacob; Tate, 2023; Li; Zhang, 2020; Noy; Zhang, 2023; Plate; Hutson, 2022;
Reza et al., 2023).
In the domain of ethical practices within writing, the construct WRITING INTEGRITY
IS MAINTAINED THROUGH AI-DRIVEN ETHICAL SAFEGUARDS is supported by
themes asserting that writing integrity is safeguarded by AI tools that ensure adherence to
ethical standards. It highlights the critical role of AI technologies in upholding the integrity and
authenticity of written content. By focusing on the ethical dimensions of AI applications in
writing, this construct stresses the importance of maintaining truthful and reliable content,
which is fundamental in preserving public trust and the credibility of written works.
The integration of AI tools in academic environments has divided opinions among
educators and scholars. “Ci sono due campi nel mondo accademico. Il primo è quello degli
‘early adopters’ dell’intelligenza artificiale, il secondo è quello dei professori e degli
accademici che pensano che l’AI corrompa l’integrità accademica” (my translation). This
excerpt from the screenshot 3C (see Figure 33) captures the core debate: the first group consists
of early adopters who embrace AI technologies such as ChatGPT for their potential to enhance
research and educational practices, while the second group includes educators and scholars who
view the widespread adoption of AI tools as a potential threat to the established standards of
academic integrity.
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(Gordon et al., 2023; Tamilselvi et al., 2023). AI-powered text-checking services like QuillBot
and HiveModeration have demonstrated efficacy in detecting AI-generated content, although
they sometimes fail to identify AI signs in original texts, highlighting the need for continuous
improvement in these tools (Lukianenko; Shastko; Korbut, 2024; Tamilselvi et al., 2023).
QuillBot, Grammarly, and Wordtune are AI-powered writing tools designed to enhance
various aspects of writing. QuillBot specializes in paraphrasing and summarizing text to help
avoid plagiarism and improve clarity. Grammarly acts as a comprehensive writing assistant,
offering corrections and suggestions for grammar, style, and tone, making it invaluable for
producing polished and professional text. Wordtune focuses on improving readability and style,
offering sentence restructuring and word choice enhancements to better engage and
communicate with readers. Together, these tools are beneficial for educators, students, content
creators, and professionals seeking to refine their writing quality and promote academic
integrity. Their integration, however, necessitates the adoption of ethical standards to prevent
misuse (Tamilselvi et al., 2023).
These approaches and methodologies integrate the recursive and dialogic principles
(Morin, 2015). The recursive principle is evident as the system uses continuous feedback loops
to refine and enhance its processes. Each iteration of AI analysis and human review feeds back
into the system, progressively improving its ability to detect and differentiate AI-generated
content. Simultaneously, the dialogic principle is demonstrated through the ongoing dialogue
between human cognition and AI processing. This symbiotic interaction is also captured in the
screenshot 5A (see Figure 34), which addresses the transformative potential and challenges
GenAI brings to educational integrity. “While some regard AI as a potentially transformative
technology, creating a more inclusive and personalized education, for others it makes it
impossible to trust coursework grades” (excerpt from the screenshot 5A).
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highlight the importance of these tools in maintaining the integrity of written content
(Dubinsky; Simón‐Soro, 2023).
Machine learning models like the Generative Textual Likelihood Ratio (GLTR) have
been proven to improve the detection rate of AI-generated text. The GLTR models enhance the
human detection rate of AI-generated text from 74% to 99%, which is crucial in educational
settings to prevent plagiarism and ensure the authenticity of student submissions (Prajapati et
al., 2024). Furthermore, studies evaluating the effectiveness of online detection tools such as
GPTZero, ZeroGPT, Writer ACD, and Originality reveal significant variability in their
accuracy, with some tools like Originality showing enhanced sensitivity to AI-generated text
patterns, indicating the need for more refined detection methodologies (Bellini et al., 2024).
In scientific research, a three-dimensional model consisting of transparency, integrity,
and accountability has been proposed to define the responsible use of AI, along with “AI Usage
Cards” to standardize reporting and promote ethical AI usage, ensuring the integrity of scientific
outputs (Wahle et al., 2023). Journals and publishers also leverage AI to screen submissions for
potential misconduct, such as plagiarism and data manipulation, ensuring the integrity of
published manuscripts while emphasizing the importance of human review to verify AI-
identified cases and maintain accountability (Hosseini; Resnik, 2024).
Editorial policies have been developed to guide the appropriate use of AI in authorship,
peer review, and editorial processing to prevent the erosion of scientific integrity (Leung et al.,
2023). Additionally, the gap between AI-generated and human-written scientific texts in terms
of depth and quality highlights the need for ongoing optimization of AI models to produce high-
quality content while addressing ethical and security concerns (Ma et al., 2023). Finally, the
vulnerability of existing plagiarism detection algorithms to AI-based tools underscores the
importance of developing more robust methods to detect and prevent academic dishonesty
(Xiao; Chatterjee; Gehringer, 2022).
In the creative sector, AI tools democratize the generation of high-quality creative
outputs, allowing individuals without traditional expertise to express their aspirations and
emotions. This sustains the perceived intentionality and authenticity of creative works (Moura,
2023). However, the rapid adoption of AI-generated content challenges authenticity,
necessitating the use of watermarking techniques to detect and prevent misuse. These methods,
though promising, require further refinement to be fully effective (Jiang; Zhang; Gong, 2023).
Through the lens of Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015), the holographic principle enhances this
landscape by suggesting that each piece of AI-generated content, despite being a single entity,
encapsulates comprehensive creative dynamics. This broader view reflects that individual
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works are not isolated creations but integral parts of the collective creative domain, influencing
and mirroring the entire artistic ecosystem.
Collectively, AI tools are being tested for their effectiveness in detecting artificially
generated information across multiple domains, with varying degrees of success, highlighting
the need for continuous improvement in detection technologies to maintain content authenticity
(Akram, 2023). This context issues a demand for parallel developments in education. The
“Writer’s Integrity” framework enhances this by monitoring the writing process rather than the
final product, capturing the distinct behavioral footprint of human authorship, validating human
intellectual work and preserving academic integrity and intellectual property rights (Aburass;
Abu Rumman, 2024).
The integration of GenAI tools such as ChatGPT into educational settings requires
practices that focus on the creation of detailed and effective prompts to facilitate meaningful
human-AI interactions (dos Santos; Boa Sorte; de Oliveira, forthcoming). These prompts enable
functional and ethical use of AI text generators and foster critical thinking skills. By serving as
a scaffolding tool, GenAI helps students overcome language barriers and cognitive challenges,
enhancing their creativity and collaboration. This approach also empowers students with the
necessary expertise to navigate adeptly in an AI-driven world, teaching them the skills needed
to critically analyze AI-generated content and use it effectively in their learning and writing
processes.
Considering these developments, the phenomenon of writing impacted by GenAI is a
complex system when viewed through the lens of the recursive, dialogic, and holographic
principles (Morin, 2015). Each piece of AI-generated content is not simply a static text but part
of a broader, dynamic system in which content is continuously created, interpreted, and
recreated, thereby mirroring the recursive nature of complex systems. Similarly, the dialogic
principle emphasizes that AI-generated texts facilitate ongoing conversations between human
and machine, each learning and adapting from the other.
To expand on this view, the holographic principle demonstrates that in complex
systems, each part reflects the entire system. This principle shows how individual interactions
with GenAI represent and actively influence overarching educational goals, such as fostering
critical thinking and ethical engagement. These interactions are more than reflections. They are
formative elements that help shape both the educational framework and cognitive development.
Recognizing writing impacted by GenAI as a complex system implies that this phenomenon
continuously evolves with technological advancements. It reveals the need for educational
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practices that develop our ability to engage both critically and creatively in this evolving
landscape.
a deeper engagement with the mechanics of writing, such as grammar, style, coherence, and
content as indicated in recent studies.
Additionally, AI’s role in education extends beyond personalized learning; it also offers
possibilities for facilitating the global dissemination of educational content. The advancements
in NLP and transformer language models (TLMs) enable the creation of multilingual
educational resources, making high-quality content accessible to a global audience
(Gruetzemacher; Paradice, 2022). This potential benefit is also captured in the screenshot 5B
(see Figure 35), an interview with Sal Khan, the founder and CEO of Khan Academy13. While
discussing the broader implications of AI on education, he presents Khan Academy’s
impressive reach and impact: over 160 million registered users across more than 190 countries
and availability in over 50 languages.
13
Khan Academy is an internet-based educational platform that is freely accessible, offering instructional videos,
practice exercises, and customized learning dashboards across various subjects spanning a variety of academic
disciplines. Through the utilization of sophisticated GenAI technologies, such as GPT-4 via its proprietary tool
known as Khanmigo, the platform customizes the educational journey for each student, enabling them to
advance at their own speed and targeting specific areas of academic challenge. Funded by donations and grants,
Khan Academy aims to provide a high-quality education regardless of their geographic location, although
accessibility might be constrained by the availability of internet connectivity and technological devices.
Available at: [Link] and [Link] .
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Despite the widespread reach of Khan Academy, leveraging AI and the internet to
democratize education, the digital divide presents significant challenges in achieving truly
universal access. A critical obstacle is the lack of reliable internet access for many individuals
globally, which is fundamental to utilizing online resources like Khan Academy. Additionally,
the absence of necessary technological devices such as computers, tablets, or smartphones
limits the access of many students to these educational tools.
Beyond these digital gaps, broader societal inequities like poverty, inadequate
infrastructure, and political instability severely impede educational access. Addressing these
issues demands a collaborative approach among governments, non-governmental
organizations, and other key stakeholders to forge an equitable educational landscape that
extends beyond digital solutions.
This promise for democratizing access to quality education worldwide, often
highlighted by proponents of educational technology, warrants critical examination. It raises
questions about the actual efficacy of AI in bridging educational disparities across diverse
geographic and socio-economic contexts. Such scrutiny is essential to discerning whether AI
can truly deliver on its potential to democratize access to quality education globally.
The results from the three theoretical constructs addressed the first specific objective of
this research. The key terms — revolution, integrity, and transformation — extracted from each
construct, convey the approach to the phenomenon of writing on internet-based platforms,
particularly after the launch of ChatGPT. According to Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015),
revolution, integrity, and transformation are interrelated phenomena that interact within a
dynamic system, collectively influencing and shaping the broader phenomenon of writing on
internet-based platforms, especially after the launch of ChatGPT, by driving profound shifts in
writing practices, upholding ethical standards, and continuously evolving writing processes.
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SECTION 4
14
Image generated using OpenAI’s DALL-E image generation tool on November 11, 2023. The prompt used for
generation was: “Generate an image that shows human and machine integrating to write.”
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This section presents the 25 revealed themes that were fundamental to the development
of the constructs discussed herein (see Figure 36). In this analytical path, the “screenshots of
the reality I see” interpreted through Complex Thinking principles (Morin, 2015) exemplify the
interconnectedness of the phenomena studied in this research: writing, education, and GenAI
technologies.
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I initiate the presentation and analysis of the research findings, addressing the second
specific objective of the study. This objective concerns the phenomenon of writing, recognized
as a life experience (Ravagnoli, 2017), being impacted by the phenomenon of AI text
generators, particularly ChatGPT. This influence spans three critical areas: educational,
pedagogical, and ethical issues. Educational concerns focus on the broad impact of AI text
generators on the educational landscape, including aspects such as assessment. Pedagogical
issues relate specifically to strategies, methods or theories of teaching writing. Ethical
considerations explore the moral implications, questioning what is right or wrong in the use of
such technology in writing practices. The data supporting this analysis, “screenshots of the
reality I see”, is derived from the documents found on internet-based platforms, phenomena
that capture writing as a social practice. This understanding is underpinned by the principles of
Complex Thinking: recursive, holographic, and dialogic (Morin, 2015).
Recognizing writing impacted by GenAI as a complex system is acknowledging it as a
phenomenon whose dynamic nature continuously evolves with technological advancements.
The recursive principle (Morin, 2015) reveals how educational impacts of AI on writing are not
isolated events but rather cyclical processes that affect and are affected by the educational
system at large. For example, the integration of AI in assessment practices both shapes and is
shaped by evolving educational standards and learning outcomes. In terms of pedagogy, the
holographic principle (Morin, 2015) applies where each part of the teaching methodology
reflects the whole pedagogical framework. This is evident in how AI text generators like
ChatGPT can be used to complement traditional teaching methods, thereby enhancing the
holistic approach to writing instruction. This integration demonstrates how individual
pedagogical techniques influenced by GenAI mirror the overall objectives and methodologies
of educational institutions. Ethical issues are examined through the dialogic principle (Morin,
2015), emphasizing the importance of ongoing dialogue concerning the moral dimensions of
using GenAI in writing. This dialogue involves multiple stakeholders — including educators,
students, and policy makers — engaging in discussions about what is deemed right or wrong in
the use of GenAI technologies. This principle encourages a broad and inclusive conversation
that acknowledges diverse perspectives and the evolving nature of ethical standards in a
digitally enhanced educational landscape.
This section is structured into five subsections, each dedicated to a distinct theoretical
construct, elaborated through the movements of Analytical Entwining integrated with GenAI
and in collaboration with ChatGPT. The exploration of each construct commences with a
delineation of its essential themes. The following analysis includes references to scholars who
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have contributed to the debate on these constructs, incorporating excerpts from literature and
research data to enrich the discussion. This approach is uniformly applied across all the five
constructs.
it is imperative that mathematics and computer science educators integrate literacy education
into their things. This holistic approach would make every educator a literacy teacher in the
GenAI era. Moreover, the advancement of multimodal literacy, which merges traditional text
with other media, acknowledges the historical multimodality of literacy and adapts to the
nuanced transitions introduced by GenAI, which can generate diverse content forms from
textual inputs (Kalantzis; Cope, 2024). For instance, the screenshot 1E (see Figure 37) provides
strategies on utilizing ChatGPT to enhance essay writing skills, exemplifying these expanded
capabilities in practice.
The screenshot 1E highlights a common challenge many students face in essay writing,
noting the lack of formal instruction with the statement: “No one really teaches us how to write
essays and getting a 1st can seem daunting”. It introduced a technique that employs a structured
approach, significantly aided by GenAI technologies like ChatGPT, to demystify and improve
essay writing. This method aims to clarify the process and increase both the efficiency and
effectiveness of writing, which is crucial for students aiming for high grades. The integration
of GenAI in this technique exemplifies the transformative impact of technology on educational
practices, particularly in refining and enhancing more traditional academic skills.
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The professor’s method involves having students identify and correct mistakes in texts
generated by ChatGPT. As highlighted in the passage, “The publication about the case on
Reddit attracted many positive comments, with users congratulating the teacher for addressing
technology in a way that demonstrates the tool’s limitations, as well as teaching students to
better understand writing” (my translation). This strategy exposes the limitations of GenAI in
writing and actively engages students in the learning process, enhancing their understanding of
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writing mechanics and fostering critical thinking skills. The enthusiastic reception on Reddit
underscores the potential of integrating GenAI tools in education to both challenge and educate
students more effectively. Similarly, the application of these tools reflects the principles of
complex systems (Morin, 2015), where interventions, such as teaching students to critically
analyze AI-generated texts, initiate feedback loops that enhance learning outcomes and adapt
pedagogical approaches.
The recursive nature of complex systems (Morin, 2015) makes them less predictable
and controllable, as changes in one part of the system can have unforeseen effects elsewhere
due to the continuous feedback loops. Unlike linear causality, which flows in one direction—
from cause to effect — these systems exhibit circular causality, in which causes and effects
continuously influence each other in a loop. Systems characterized by recursive thinking often
involve feedback loops. Positive feedback loops can lead to exponential growth or escalation,
while negative feedback loops tend to stabilize systems.
Incorporating the concept of the recursive principle (Morin, 2015) in education
encourages students to think beyond linear narratives and understand the complexity and
dynamism of the world around them. This principle is key in understanding complex systems
in which simple cause-effect relationships are insufficient. It emphasizes the interconnectedness
and interdependence of elements within a system, representing a shift from linear,
compartmentalized knowledge to a more integrated, holistic understanding. Recognizing this
principle allows for a deeper comprehension of the dynamic and evolving nature of complex
systems. The screenshot 3E (see Figure 39) illustrates how 1st and 5th graders are using the
SchoolAI tool to learn how to formulate their own questions, demonstrating a unique
application of AI in educational settings.
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the notion that writing by hand is seen as too slow for our times highlights a significant cultural
shift. This change remains particularly profound as we continue to navigate the transition from
paper to digital screens, a transformation propelled by the rise of computers and the internet.
However, this transition is not experienced uniformly; many individuals and communities still
lack access to computers and the internet, resulting in a growing digital divide. Advanced text-
generating AI technologies are setting new standards for speed and efficiency, further widening
this gap. This disparity is exacerbated by the unequal implementation of educational public
policies across different countries and schools.
The transformative shifts in writing practices, as detailed in the preceding discussions,
can be interpreted through the lens of Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015), aiding in
understanding the reorganization processes the phenomenon of writing is undergoing. The
holographic principle is evident as every part of the practices of multiliteracies (Kalantzis;
Cope; Pinheiro, 2020; Kalantzis; Cope, 2023) reflects the overall cultural shift towards digital
integration; small changes in classroom approaches mirror larger societal shifts towards
multimodal communication. The recursive principle is observed in the iterative process of
adapting literacy curricula to include traditional texts, digital content, and AI-generated content,
suggesting a continual revisiting and refining of educational practices. The dialogic aspect is
prominent in the engagement with multiliteracies, where texts are not merely consumed but
interacted with, creating a dynamic exchange between students, educators, and digital content.
Finally, the notion of a system is crucial, as literacy no longer stands alone but is interconnected
with various fields such as mathematics, coding, and AI, forming an integrated network of
knowledge that transcends traditional boundaries. These principles guide the understanding that
writing practices are evolving into more complex, integrated systems that reflect the intricate
realities of the contemporary world.
and styles. However, this technological integration is not devoid of challenges. The detectability
of AI-generated content poses significant concerns for writing assessments, complicating the
ability to discern human from machine-generated text. Additionally, the use of AI in completing
writing assignments introduces ethical dilemmas, particularly concerning originality and
authorship. This shift suggests a transformation in the role of the writer, predominantly towards
revising and editing AI-generated drafts, thereby redefining traditional writing dynamics and
responsibilities.
From the perspective of Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015), this theoretical construct
highlights the recursive, dialogic, and systemic nature of incorporating AI into writing. This
integration demonstrates the recursive principle by showcasing how AI tools and human input
continually influence and reshape each other. Writers adjust their strategies based on AI
feedback, while AI systems evolve through interactions with human-generated content, creating
a continuous loop of mutual enhancement and adaptation.
The dialogic principle (Morin, 2015) emerges in the exchange between technology and
traditional writing practices, in which AI capabilities challenge and converse with established
norms of writing and authorship. This dialogue extends to ethical considerations, as the
community debates the implications of AI-generated content, reflecting on what constitutes
authenticity and intellectual ownership in the “post-digital” age (Cascone, 2000; Cramer, 2015).
Furthermore, examining this construct through a systemic lens (Morin, 2015) reveals
the interrelated nature of different elements such as technology, ethics, education, and societal
norms. The incorporation of GenAI into writing is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a
broader system that includes educational policies, technological advancements, and cultural
values. Each element within this system affects and is affected by the others, indicating that
changes in one aspect, like GenAI’s role in writing, could have ripple effects throughout the
entire educational and social landscape. The screenshot 1D (see Figure 40) provides a visual
representation of this discussion, highlighting the multifaceted roles of ChatGPT as a disruptor
across various industries, including education.
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managing memory resources necessitates intensive practice and personalized feedback. The
demand on teachers for preparing instructional materials, and managing the labor-intensive
tasks of reading, editing, and providing feedback on student writings is significantly alleviated
(Allen; Jacovina; McNamara, 2016), enabling a more focused approach to nurturing essential
writing skills.
In accordance with the National Commission on Writing (2004), time for this process is
rare as teachers are faced with large classes further reducing time for instruction and planning.
This context justified the initial development of computer systems for summative assessment
and instruction of texts, including more recent studies that seek to develop personalized
guidelines for formative assessment based on individual analysis of performance and behaviors.
The algorithms of these so-called W-Pal systems make use of a number of different techniques
that provide personalized feedback identifying everything from more basic linguistic aspects
such as word frequency, length of each sentence to features such as strategies for rhetoric, and
semantic cohesion, elaboration, organization, and lexical sophistication (McNamara et al.,
2014). However, these systems fail to provide feedback to subjective and more significant
aspects, such as students’ creativity and development of ideas and arguments.
Building on these foundational AI systems, newer technologies, including AI-based
Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) systems like Grammarly, enhance writing accuracy and
fluency by offering real-time feedback on grammatical errors and stylistic choices (Yan, 2023).
The integration of AI tools in writing instruction also extends to the assessment phase, in which
tools like ChatGPT can automatically grade written work, provide specific comments, and
evaluate various aspects of the text, including content richness, clarity, and organization
(Barrot, 2023). Moreover, AI tools like QuillBot are designed to bolster sentence structure and
vocabulary proficiency, making them valuable for multilingual learners (Duncanson, 2024).
As AI tools become increasingly embedded in educational practices, the necessity to
critically reflect on their uses is emphasized. This critical-reflective posture is advocated to
comprehend the possible changes in the teaching-learning context and teaching practices
brought about by algorithms designed to personalize learning, addressing each student
individually (Kaufman; Santaella, 2020; Santos; Arruda, 2019). The importance of this critical
examination is visually represented in the screenshot 4D (see Figure 41), which captures the
reactions to Governor Tarcísio de Freitas’s proposal to use ChatGPT for creating digital lessons
in São Paulo’s public schools.
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The approach involves using ChatGPT to develop educational content, a strategy that
has stirred considerable debate about replacing some functions traditionally performed by
teachers with GenAI. In this screenshot addressing this issue, concerns are voiced about the
proposal being controversial and worrying: “At the very least, the proposal is controversial. In
reality, it is very worrying to see the use of AI grow in this way” (my translation). This statement
highlights the tension between technological advancement and the preservation of human-
centered teaching practices. The discussion underscores the broader implications of AI’s role
in education, emphasizing the need for a careful balance between leveraging AI for efficiency
and maintaining essential human interactions that are critical for educational and social
development.
The transformative potential of AI tools in educational practices extends beyond
ChatGPT, encompassing their applications in lesson planning, content generation, and task
creation. A conducted pedagogical experiment highlights the benefits and challenges, revealing
significant advantages and drawbacks. Critically, this research assesses teachers’ competence
in utilizing these tools, focusing on awareness, adaptability, and confidence. The findings
indicate the need for ongoing development of digital competence among teachers and a
conscious understanding of AI’s risks and limitations (Kyrpa et al., 2024). The necessity for
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further investigation into the educational potential of AI tools and the need to equip teachers
with effective integration skills is stressed (Bazerman, 2023; Copes; Kalantziz, 2024; Kyrpa et
al., 2024).
Following this exploration on the impact of AI tools in education, the Complex Thinking
principles (Morin, 2015) illuminate how these tools can be integrated and assessed effectively.
The holographic principle is mirrored in how individual components, such as teacher
competence, reflect broader educational impacts, suggesting that the effectiveness of AI tools
is closely interconnected with educators’ holistic understanding and implementation. The
recursive nature of this approach is underscored as the study emphasizes the need for ongoing
development in educators’ digital competencies, fostering a continuous improvement cycle
within educational practices. The dialogic principle highlights the importance of sustained
dialogue among technology developers, educators, and students to ensure that AI deployments
meet the diverse needs of the educational community and enhance learning outcomes. Lastly,
the notion of system underscores the interconnectedness of all elements within educational
ecosystems, advocating for a systemic approach to the integration of AI tools that considers all
interactions between technology, pedagogical strategies, and curriculum development. These
principles advocate for a multifaceted and dynamic approach to integrating AI in education
(Kyrpa et al., 2024).
for a balanced view that embraces the technological advancements GenAI brings to writing
while critically addressing its pitfalls.
Building on this construct through the lens of Complex Thinking principles (Morin,
2015) reveals the inherently complex nature of writing systems. By applying the dialogic
principle, we recognize that writing involves constant interactions between human creativity
and GenAI capabilities. These elements should be integrated to enhance the depth and breadth
of written content. The recursive principle further illuminates how the inputs and outputs of AI
tools in writing are interdependent. Each cycle of feedback and revision potentially elevates the
quality of the final product, emphasizing the recursive nature of learning and adaptation in
writing.
The holographic principle suggests that every part of the writing process reflects the
whole system, indicating that changes in any component — be it AI-driven grammar correction
or human stylistic input — resonate throughout the entire text. Through an examination of the
notion of the system, we understand that the writing is an ecosystem, that is, it is shaped by the
confluence of multiple factors including technological tools, authorial purpose, and reader
interpretation, all of which combine to form a dynamic and evolving narrative space. Hence,
embracing these principles allows us to perceive and engage with writing not just as a linear act
of producing text, but as a dynamic, interactive system that is continually shaped and reshaped
by various influences.
GenAI technologies, such as grammar checkers and style editors, assist writers in
producing error-free and stylistically consistent texts. These tools can identify grammatical
errors, suggest vocabulary improvements, and even offer stylistic adjustments, thereby
enhancing the overall quality of writing (Davison et al., 2023). Moreover, AI-driven platforms
can analyze large volumes of text to provide insights into writing patterns and trends, which
can be particularly beneficial for academic and professional writers seeking to refine their work
(Misra; Chandwar, 2023).
In terms of creativity, AI has expanded the horizons for writers by generating content
ideas and even drafting initial versions of texts. This capability enables writers to explore
diverse perspectives and styles, fostering more innovative and engaging content. GenAI, in
particular, can simulate a variety of writing styles and genres, providing a broader palette of
creative options for authors (Stokel-Walker, 2023). The screenshot 4F (see Figure 42) illustrates
this point through a discussion on the use of AI in creative collaborations, particularly in the
context of co-authoring books. This visualization captures the dynamic interplay between
human creativity and GenAI capabilities in producing literary works.
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differences between students across many dimensions? Can inexpensive, one-to-one, AI-
supported literacy teaching close the gap?” (Kalantzis; Cope, 2024, p. 27).
The integration of AI writing tools in education presents both opportunities and
challenges in achieving educational equity. AI writing tools possess the capacity to promote
equal access to exceptional writing aid, yet they pose a potential threat of amplifying current
disparities if deployed without careful consideration. These tools have the capability to enrich
education through individualized guidance and assistance, a feature especially advantageous
for students lacking availability to conventional tutoring services. For instance, AI can offer
immediate, tailored feedback on writing assignments, helping students improve their skills at
their own pace (Pan, 2024).
This capability is especially valuable in large classrooms where individual attention
from instructors is limited. However, the effectiveness of AI writing tools in promoting
educational equity depends significantly on their accessibility and the context in which they are
used. Research indicates that disparities in access to technology can hinder the equitable
distribution of AI benefits. Students from underprivileged backgrounds may lack the necessary
devices or internet connectivity to fully utilize these tools, thereby widening the educational
gap (Stornaiuolo et al., 2023; Viberg et al., 2024). The screenshot 5F (see Figure 43) highlights
the integration of AI in education, focusing on its potential benefits and the ethical
considerations it necessitates.
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In this screenshot, a leader in the field of education emphasizes the potential risk of AI
exacerbating educational disparities, highlighting the necessity of ensuring fair distribution of
AI’s benefits. This emphasizes the importance of utilizing AI in a way that caters to all students,
preventing the widening of current gaps. The promotion of fairness and inclusivity in
educational environments through meticulous planning and policy development is crucial to
guarantee that all students can access the advantages offered by AI. This concern aligns with
the holographic principle (Morin, 2015), as it reflects the need for AI tools to embody the values
of the entire educational system, ensuring that every part contributes to overall equity.
Additionally, the dialogic principle (Morin, 2015) is evident here, as it stresses the importance
of dialogue between technology and pedagogy to create an inclusive and fair educational
landscape.
Moreover, the design of AI systems often reflects the biases of their creators, which can
lead to biased feedback that disadvantages certain groups of students (Selim, 2024).
Additionally, the incorporation of AI writing aids in academic environments necessitates a
meticulous examination of instructional approaches. Educators should undergo training to
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adeptly integrate these tools into their pedagogical techniques, with the aim of ensuring that
they enhance rather than supplant conventional instructional approaches (Xu, 2024). This
integration holds significant importance in maintaining a balanced approach that leverages the
strengths of both AI and human instruction.
Another critical aspect is the potential for AI tools to support diverse learning needs. AI
can be programmed to recognize and adapt to different learning styles, offering customized
support that can help bridge the gap for students with varying abilities and backgrounds
(Alordiah, 2023). However, this requires ongoing research and development to ensure that AI
systems are inclusive and sensitive to the diverse needs of all learners. The ethical implications
of AI in education also warrant attention. A necessity exists for clear and open policies
concerning data privacy and the utilization of student data within artificial intelligence (AI)
systems. Ensuring that students and educators understand how these tools work and the data
they collect is essential for building trust and promoting equitable use (Roscoe et al., 2022;
Roe; Renandya; Jacobs, 2023).
While AI writing tools hold promise for enhancing educational equity, their successful
implementation requires addressing issues of access, bias, and integration into existing
educational frameworks. Policymakers, educators, and developers should engage in
collaborative efforts to develop inclusive, accessible, and efficient AI solutions that cater to the
needs of all students, especially those belonging to marginalized communities. By doing so, AI
can become a powerful ally in the quest for educational equity, providing all students with the
opportunity to succeed in their academic pursuits (Costa; Mfolo; Ntsobi, 2024; Gustilo; Ong;
Lapinid, 2024).
For GenAI to make a substantial difference, it would require innovative pedagogical
strategies and transformative changes in classroom dynamics. A scenario analysis explores both
the risk of GenAI exacerbating existing inequalities and its potential to alleviate long-standing
social divisions ingrained through traditional educational practices. Thus, a critical,
programmatic question arises: What might an agenda of educational justice look like in a time
of AI? This inquiry compels us to critically consider whether AI can be effectively utilized to
promote educational equity or if it might inadvertently solidify the status quo (Kalantzis; Cope,
2024).
Viewing the challenges and potential of GenAI through the lens of Complex Thinking
principles (Morin, 2015) enriches our understanding of its implications for educational equity.
The holographic principle compels us to consider how AI tools could reflect and reinforce the
values of equity throughout the entire educational system, rather than serving as isolated
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technological fixes. Applying the recursive principle reveals the importance of iterative
feedback processes in shaping the impacts of AI, ensuring that these technologies evolve in
ways that genuinely support educational justice. Moreover, the dialogic principle emphasizes
the need for ongoing, meaningful dialogues involving various stakeholders such as students,
educators, technologists, and policymakers in order to navigate the complexities of AI
incorporation and its broader societal implications. This critical examination challenges us to
question not only the capabilities of AI but also the systemic changes required to ensure it
benefits all learners equitably, avoiding the reinforcement of existing disparities.
input, refining both the technology and its educational application. This interaction ensures that
AI tools evolve in ways that enrich the learning experience while adhering to educational goals.
The holographic principle also plays a crucial role, suggesting that all components of
the educational system—AI tools and human mentors—should reflect and contribute to the
overarching educational objectives. By ensuring that AI tools complement rather than replace
human interaction, the educational process retains its depth and authenticity, reflecting the
comprehensive values of the system. The notion of system underscores the interconnectedness
of technological and human components within the educational ecosystem. It advocates for a
balanced approach to integrating AI, in which technological advancements and traditional
methods coexist to enhance the educational experience, catering to diverse learning styles and
needs.
Integrating AI into writing processes in educational settings offers numerous
opportunities to enhance learning while preserving essential human interactions. AI systems
can analyze student writing to identify areas for improvement, offering suggestions on
grammar, style, and structure. This can help students develop their writing skills more
effectively than traditional methods alone (Nguyen et al., 2024a; Pan, 2024). Moreover, AI can
facilitate the drafting process by generating ideas or providing templates, which can be
particularly beneficial for students who struggle with writer’s block or organizing their thoughts
(Tu et al., 2024). The screenshot 4D (see Figure 44) exemplifies this growing trend of AI
integration in educational settings, showcasing a report on the widespread use of AI
technologies for essay writing.
130
The surge in AI utilization among students is underscored by a survey from the Higher
Education Policy Institute, which found that “More than half of undergraduates say they consult
artificial intelligence programmes to help with their essays, while schools are trialling its use in
the classroom”. Furthermore, it was noted that 53% of those surveyed were actively using AI
to generate content for their assignments. However, direct plagiarism appears limited, with only
5% admitting to copying and pasting unedited AI-generated text into their assessments. This
highlights a shift towards using AI as a tool for enhancing academic work rather than copying
from it, suggesting a need for guidelines to optimize its use responsibly within educational
settings.
This trend underscores the dialogic principle of Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015), in
which the interaction between AI tools and educational methods evolves dynamically, pointing
towards a need for continuous dialogue and adaptation to ensure ethical integration and
effective use within academic environments. The increasing use of AI in educational settings
exemplifies a dynamic interplay between technology and educational practices. This interaction
is inherently recursive (Morin, 2015). The adaptation of AI tools in learning environments
131
The screenshot highlights how GenAI can improve the way educational content is
structured and communicated, making it more accessible and engaging for learners.
“Generative AI is great for structuring and communicating information in ways that make it
easy to understand and absorb as well as providing answers; it can be used to generate
interactive learning experiences such as chatbots that can bring learning to life, or even roleplay
as historical characters”. This approach aids in delivering information and in creating dynamic
interactions that can stimulate students’ imagination and interest.
In light of Complex thinking (Morin, 2015), the use of GenAI illustrates the dialogic
nature of contemporary educational resources, in which the interaction between technology and
traditional educational practices creates a new and dynamic form of writing. This dialogic
interaction allows GenAI tools to serve dual roles: they standardize information delivery for
better understanding while simultaneously creating immersive, interactive learning modules
like chatbots. This process conveys information and engages learners in a dialogue, enhancing
retention and interest. The recursive aspect of GenAI in educational settings is evident as these
tools learn and adapt from each interaction. As students engage with AI-driven platforms, the
tools themselves evolve, continually improving their methods of information delivery and
133
interaction. This continuous feedback loop enriches the writing process within educational
content, making it increasingly effective over time.
The holographic principle reflects how each part of the educational content — whether
a structured lesson or an interactive role-play — contains the essence of the whole educational
objective. GenAI integrates these various elements to create a cohesive learning experience that
mirrors the complexity and interconnectedness of the subject matter being taught. GenAI’s role
in education exemplifies the systemic organization, in which various components of the
educational system — content, pedagogy, technology, and learner engagement — are
integrated. GenAI synthesizes these elements, facilitating a system that adapts to and supports
diverse learning styles and needs.
Despite these advantages, there are challenges to consider. One significant concern is
the potential for AI to perpetuate biases present in the data it is trained on. This can lead to
biased feedback or suggestions, which could negatively impact student learning. It is crucial to
develop AI systems that are transparent and regularly updated to mitigate these risks (Sysoyev;
Filatov, 2024).
Additionally, there is a need for educators to be trained in effectively integrating AI
tools into their teaching practices, ensuring that they can guide students in using these
technologies responsibly and effectively (Rahayu et al., 2023). AI can be a powerful tool in
enhancing the writing process in educational settings, offering personalized feedback,
facilitating collaboration, and supporting student engagement.
Considering Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015), this theoretical construct reveals the
multifaceted nature of integrating GenAI in educational contexts, particularly in enhancing the
writing process. It advocates for comprehensive training of educators, highlighting the need for
a systemic approach to effectively harness AI’s capabilities, such as providing personalized
feedback, facilitating collaboration, and boosting student engagement. This perspective
recognizes that the incorporation of AI tools involves more than just technical deployment; it
necessitates an adaptive educational ecosystem that can foster both technological and
pedagogical innovation. By emphasizing educator preparedness, this construct stresses the
importance of human guidance in leveraging technological advancements, thereby balancing
AI’s utility with ethical considerations and educational goals. This complex interplay between
human and machine illustrates the broader implications for pedagogy and curriculum
development, urging a thoughtful integration of technology that enhances learning while
respecting the educational guidelines.
134
The results from the five theoretical constructs addressed the second specific objective
of this research. The key terms — enhancement, support, quality, authenticity, equity, and
integration — extracted from the constructs, address educational, pedagogical, and ethical
issues related to the impact of AI-text generators on the phenomenon of writing, particularly
after the launch of ChatGPT. Through the lens of Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015), these terms
are seen as interrelated phenomena that interact within a dynamic educational ecosystem.
Collectively, they contribute to a multifaceted understanding of how AI-text generators
influence writing practices. They promote enhanced pedagogical approaches and support
personalized learning, while upholding quality and authenticity in written outputs. Furthermore,
they advocate for educational equity by ensuring that GenAI tools are accessible and beneficial
across diverse learning environments, thereby facilitating an integrated approach that respects
both technological advancements and traditional educational values. This holistic view
emphasizes the necessity of continuously adapting educational strategies to embrace the
potentials of GenAI responsibly, ensuring that these innovations serve to augment human
capabilities and foster an inclusive and effective educational landscape.
135
SECTION 5
FINAL REMARKS15
15
Image generated using OpenAI’s DALL-E image generation tool on November 11, 2023. The prompt used for
generation was: “Basing the next generation of images on these last ones*, generate an image that expresses
the epistemological and methodological approach, Complex Thinking (by Edgar Morin), adopted for this
investigation which focuses on education, writing, generative artificial intelligence, large language models,
and ChatGPT”. *One of the last images I am referring to in this prompt is the input used for the section 2
image.
136
5 FINAL REMARKS
While the benefits of GenAI in education are substantial, they also cast a spotlight on
the pressing issue of the digital divide. The lack of access to essential technologies, including
computers and the internet, continues to widen this gap, particularly in various countries and
schools where resources are limited. This disparity impedes the equitable distribution of
educational advancements and restricts the potential for comprehensive learning and
development. To ensure equitable access to the benefits of GenAI in education, the integration
of these technologies requires robust measures and public policies that address existing
inequalities. This approach is essential for providing every student, regardless of their
geographical or economic circumstances, with equal opportunities to benefit from these
transformative tools.
Moreover, the reliance on technology alone cannot guarantee the enhancement of
writing quality. It is important to acknowledge that educational approaches, methods, and
strategies should be grounded in core elements that prioritize long-term objectives such as
critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Frequent changes in educational methodologies
with every new technological innovation can be disruptive rather than beneficial. From the
perspective of Complex Thinking (Morin, 2015), technologies, while powerful educational
resources, are not specifically designed for learning, they emerge from and are shaped by life
experience (Ravagnoli, 2017). These tools reflect and are influenced by the intentions and
contexts of their users. Therefore, employing these technologies thoughtfully is essential to
ensuring they serve as complements to, rather than replacements for, the fundamental
educational practices that foster deep, meaningful learning.
In synthesizing these perspectives, the impact of GenAI tools on the phenomenon of
writing can be meaningfully approached through the lens of Complex Thinking. This approach
illuminates how these technologies, while transformative, are part of a broader ecosystem that
includes socio-technical dynamics and human-centric values. The integration of GenAI into
writing is not merely about automating tasks or enhancing grammatical precision; it is about
enriching the writing process by fostering accessibility and addressing individual educational
needs.
As evidenced by the challenges of the digital divide and model collapse (Shumailov et
al., 2024), these technologies also introduce complexities that should be managed with care and
foresight. The influence of GenAI on writing is deeply intertwined with its ability to respect
and enhance critical thinking and problem-solving, essential human cognitive capacities. Thus,
while GenAI tools offer significant potential to transform educational practices, their
deployment should be guided by the principles of Complex Thinking, ensuring that
140
technological advancements harmonize with the fundamental human aspects of learning and
creativity. This balanced approach leverages the benefits of GenAI while safeguarding against
its inherent risks, thereby promoting a holistic development of writing instruction in the “post-
digital” age (Cascone, 2000; Cramer, 2015).
The concept of writing with GenAI support is emblematic of a complex system where
various components — technology, users, educational frameworks, and ethical considerations
— interact within a larger educational ecosystem. This system is not static but dynamically
responds to changes within each component, affecting how writing is taught, learned, and
practiced across different contexts. In light of the ongoing debates surrounding technologies in
education, particularly AI-text generators and, more recently, the banning of smartphones in
schools, it is essential for educators and teacher educators to embrace an active, critical, and
reflective approach to writing instruction.
Educators can guide learners in harnessing the potential of these technologies by
fostering critical GenAI-supported multiliteracies and encouraging thoughtful integration of
AI-text generators. A key strategy is the effective and ethical construction of prompts to
enhance writing instruction. Thoughtfully designed, purpose-driven prompts can support
students in exploring their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Moreover,
prompt crafting serves as a practical approach to teaching with GenAI and an ethical means of
promoting learner autonomy in writing. It also cultivates an awareness of how to use GenAI
platforms responsibly in educational contexts. Integrating GenAI into curricula requires
thoughtful application and a critical examination of its implications to ensure it enhances, rather
than overshadows, the core values of writing as a complex phenomenon within an
interconnected ecosystem.
Recognizing writing as part of this evolving system broadens our understanding of its
multifaceted nature and challenges traditional views of writing as a static skill or mechanical
ability. This research introduces the concept of writing as an ecosystem, in which technology
and human elements are interdependent and mutually enhancing, contributing to a more
collaborative and adaptive approach to writing instruction. This reorganization embodies a
continuous interplay between technology and tradition, ensuring that the evolution of writing
practices through GenAI enriches, rather than diminishes, the educational experience.
141
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