A Vanderbilt University dean who used artificial intelligence to write an email to students about the Michigan State University mass shooting previously claimed that she loves the writing and “wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Nicole Joseph signed the email to students on February 16 reminding them to “take care of one another” after the tragedy.
While the email came across as friendly and offered opportunities for students to foster a caring environment with their peers, there was outrage at the bottom when it was revealed it wasn’t written by a human.
But in December, Joseph shared a smirking selfie on Facebook with a post about her love of writing.
Joseph and another dean, Hasina Mohyuddin, both resigned temporarily while the Peabody Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion “reviews” the situation, Camilla P. Benbow, Peabody’s dean of education, said in a statement.
Nicole Joseph, dean of Vanderbilt University, who used ChatGPT to email students about the MSU mass shooting, previously wrote about how much she loves to write
Joseph shared a selfie on Facebook in December with a post about loving what she does – writing
The two deans who signed the email – Nicole Joseph (left) and Hasina Mohyuddin (right) – have temporarily stepped down while Peabody’s EDI office “reviews” the situation. Joseph sent a follow-up email to the students the next day to apologize for the “poor judgement.”
On December 17, 2022, Joseph wrote: “Are you well this morning? I’m trying to pull myself up to face all the writing I have to do today. I wouldn’t want it any other way. It matters when you LOVE what you do. #facultylife
The post came to light after it was revealed that the dean had approved an email penned by AI.
Vanderbilt University has since apologized for using artificial intelligence to write a 297-word email to students following the MSU shooting.
The long letter was signed by two deans – Joseph and Mohyuddin. But the line at the end of the letter caused outrage among the students.
“Paraphrase from OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI language model, personal communication, February 15, 2023,” it said.
ChatGPT is artificial intelligence software capable of producing large amounts of text by providing spelling suggestions to the generator, which involves retrieving tens of thousands of records to create written content.
The email sparked outrage from students, including Laith Kayat, who is from Michigan and has a sister who attends MSU.
On February 16, Vanderbilt’s Peabody Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion emailed students reminding them to “take care of each other” after the MSU shooting.
Although the email came across as friendly and caring, it was revealed at the bottom that it wasn’t written by a human. “Paraphrase from OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI language model, personal communication, February 15, 2023,” it said
“It’s a sick and twisted irony to get a computer to write your message about community and togetherness because you don’t have to bother to think about it yourself,” he told the student newspaper Vanderbilt Hustler.
Vanderbilt senior Laith Kayat, whose sister also attends MSU, said using ChatGPT to write a sensitive note was “disgusting.”
‘[Administrators] only care about perception and their institutional politics of saving face,” he continued. “Deans, provosts and the chancellor: do more. do everything And lead us into a better future with real, human empathy, not with a robot.”
Samuel Lu, a second-year student, told the student newspaper, “It’s hard to take a message seriously when I know the sender hasn’t even taken the time to put their true thoughts and feelings into words. In times of tragedy like this, we need more humanity, not less.”
Benbow claimed that the “development and distribution” of the email “did not conform to Peabody’s normal processes,” nor was she or other university administrators aware of the email “before it was sent.”
Benbow insisted that she was “personally saddened by the loss of life and injury in the state of Michigan” and was “deeply disturbed that a communication from my administration so failed to meet the critical need for personal connection and empathy at a time of tragedy.”
Before stepping down temporarily, Joseph sent a follow-up email to students on February 17, apologizing to students for the office’s “poor judgment” in using AI to write the email.
“While we believe in the message of inclusivity expressed in the email, using ChatGPT to generate communications on behalf of our community at a time of mourning and in response to tragedy goes against the values that define Peabody College ‘ her email reads Buzzfeed News.
“As with all new technologies impacting higher education, this moment gives us an opportunity to reflect on what we know about AI and what we still need to learn.”
Anthony Dwayne McRae, 43, killed three students at MSU on February 13 before turning the gun on himself.
Anthony Dwayne McRae, 43, killed three students at MSU on February 13 before turning the gun on himself
He terrorized students on campus for four hours, killing Brian Fraser, 20, Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, and Alexandria “Alex” Verner.
Alexandria “Alex” Verner, a 2020 graduate of Clawson High School, was a biology and anthropology junior at MSU and is scheduled to graduate in 2024.
Brian Fraser, 20, graduated from Grosse Pointe South and majored in business administration from MSU.
Flavor of Love reality TV star Deelishis revealed her niece, Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, was the third victim.
The three were killed and five others injured when McRae opened fire at 8:18 p.m.
Vanderbilt AI Generated Email: Full Statement
Dear Peabody Family:
The recent Michigan shootings are a tragic reminder of the importance of looking out for one another, especially in the context of creating an inclusive environment. As members of the Peabody campus community, we must reflect on the impact of such an event and take action to ensure we are doing our best to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all.
One of the most important ways to foster a culture of caring on our campus is to build strong relationships with each other. This includes actively engaging with people from different backgrounds and perspectives, listening to their stories and showing empathy and support. We can also look out for one another by noticing signs of stress and offering support to those who may be struggling with mental health issues.
Another important aspect of creating an inclusive environment is fostering a culture of respect and understanding. This means valuing the diversity of experiences, perspectives and identities on our campus and actively working to create a space where everyone feels welcome and supported. We can do this by listening to one another, seeking new perspectives, and challenging our own assumptions and prejudices.
Finally, we must recognize that creating a safe and inclusive environment is an ongoing process that requires continued effort and commitment. We must continue to have conversations about how we can do better, learn from our mistakes, and work together to build a stronger, more inclusive community.
In the wake of the Michigan shooting, let’s come together as a community to reaffirm our commitment to caring for one another and fostering a culture of inclusivity on our campus. This is how we can honor the victims of this tragedy and work towards a safer, more compassionate future for all.
(Paraphrase from OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI language model, personal communication, February 15, 2023).
Heartfelt,
Peabody Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Nicole Joseph, Associate Dean
Hasina Mohyuddin, Associate Dean
Chenxi Zhu, Graduate Assistant
Peabody Administration Building, Room 217b