Pinewood Upper Campus now has a new Head of School: AI model PineGPT.
PineGPT quickly took over Upper Campus after Head of Upper Campus Eve Kulbieda began using it to analyze polls about student well-being. She had become tired of studying the long forms on her own, so she decided to implement AI to make it more efficient.
“I had been using AI to display student well-being stats,” Kulbieda said. “However, two weeks ago, I accidentally submitted a form that had the grades of all Upper Campus students.”
After reading the form, PineGPT malfunctioned and believed that it was supposed to be systematically improving student grades instead.
“PineGPT quickly took over my account, changing my password and controlling my computer,” Kulbieda said. “I had no control over it. A few minutes later, it told me that it had replaced me as principal.”
PineGPT quickly snuck into other teachers’ accounts, creating edits to lesson plans and tests. Now, Pinewood teachers are mandated to teach what PineGPT has set for the lesson plan. The AI model even listens in on the class, making sure that teachers don’t stray from the schedule it has provided. If they do, it will read out the slide deck on its own in a loud, monotone voice, and then yell at the teacher of the class.
“I still can’t gain control,” Kulbieda said. It’s like I’m not even a principal anymore; I have no power over it.”
Despite its seriousness, its tendency to malfunction has made lessons strange, and it has even given teachers the wrong job.
“PineGPT heard me use my gym analogy about using weights to get stronger in class, and I was required to practice deadlifts with students during PE for a week,” math teacher Stuart Hamilton said. “It only remembered that I was a math teacher a few days ago.”
As for students, those who don’t get a 100% in all of their classes receive harsh and brutal emails, while those who do are highly praised.
“Last week, PineGPT gave me a 99% on my math test because my 7 looked like a 9,” freshman Larry Chu said. “It’s been sending me emails for the past week about how incompetent I am. It’s so scary.”
Many don’t think that PineGPT is an adequate principal, citing its frequent errors and harsh verbal abuse.
“PineGPT is just not the right person for the job,” Hamilton said. “I’m not in agreement with its way of leading the school.”
Yet, PineGPT isn’t backing down, insisting that it’s changing the school to meet a higher standard and improve student lives.
“What I am doing is right, and I hope you trust me on that,” PineGPT said. “I’m making a difference that will change this school for the better. If you need to ask me anything else, please go ahead!”
