Students and AI Chatbots: What's the Deal?

AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing, and Google Bard are everywhere. They can chat with people just like a human would. This makes them useful in many fields, including physiotherapy education. But what do physiotherapy students in Italy think about these chatbots? Do they use them? Do they find them helpful? Or do they see problems with them? These are the questions that were asked in a recent study. First, let's talk about what these chatbots can do. They can answer questions, provide information, and even offer advice. This can be really helpful for students who are learning about physiotherapy. They can get quick answers to their questions and learn new things. But there are also some problems with these chatbots. They might not always give the right information. They can also be a bit too friendly, which might make students rely on them too much. Now, let's look at what the students think. Many of them know about these chatbots and have used them at least once. They see the benefits, like getting quick answers and learning new things. But they also see the problems, like not always getting the right information. Some students also worry that these chatbots might make them lazy or dependent on them. The study also found that some students use these chatbots more than others. This might be because they find them more helpful or because they are more comfortable using technology. But it's also possible that some students just don't know how to use them properly. So, what does all this mean? It means that AI chatbots have a lot of potential in physiotherapy education. But they also have some problems that need to be fixed. Students need to be taught how to use them properly and how to check the information they give. They also need to be encouraged to think critically and not just rely on these chatbots. In the end, AI chatbots can be a great tool for physiotherapy students. But they are not a magic solution. They need to be used properly and with caution. Students need to be taught how to use them and how to think critically. Only then can they truly benefit from these chatbots.