Brains and Bytes: The Best of Both Worlds

A few months ago, I was stuck on a physics question. Not the “I’ll get it if I revise the concepts once more” kind of stuck. This was full-on panic. The equations looked like random symbols marching across the page. My teacher had explained it clearly in class, but for some reason, I just couldn't wrap my head around it. I felt confused and frustrated.

So, I did what I usually do when I’m too embarrassed to raise my hand again: I opened ChatGPT.

What I like about ChatGPT is that I can keep asking the same question in different ways without feeling judged. Most of us have asked ChatGPT to explain concepts like we’re five years old. Nothing to be embarrassed about because it works! I don’t have to worry about interrupting a lesson or annoying anyone. It rewrote explanations, gave me analogies, simplified the steps, and helped me break things down. Eventually, something clicked. I actually got it.

But here’s the thing: ChatGPT didn’t teach me how to learn. That was my physics teacher. He’s the one who said, “Let’s go over it again.” He encouraged me to keep working. He’s the one who taught me how to approach hard problems without panicking.

ChatGPT helps me understand what I’m learning. My teacher helped me understand how to learn.

We often talk about AI replacing teachers, but that misses the point. I don’t think of ChatGPT as a replacement for my teacher—I think of it as an extension of the classroom. When I walk out of school with half-baked notes and a foggy memory, I can use ChatGPT to reinforce and revisit what I learned.

It’s not about choosing between AI and teachers. Honestly, they’re better together. One gives me 24/7 access to explanations and helps me fill the gaps. The other gives me the mindset I need to become a better learner and sparks interest in the subject.

Together, they work best.