The Role Of Artificial Intelligence

                                        Research Informed Essay 

                                           Clewdin De La Cruz                                                                                           

                                                 English 11000

                                               Crystal Rodwell

                                               April 20th, 2026 

 Introduction:

Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in modern day society and has become a tool people use on a daily basis without even realizing it. When coming across different sources, they each provide us readers with relevant information needed to know how exactly Al has an impact on our daily lives. First of all, we need to know what Artificial Intelligence really is. A simple definition would be that it is a tool that focuses on creating machines and software that’s capable of performing tasks that require humans. These tasks can involve learning, problem solving, decision making, or even understanding different sorts of patterns. Although these impacts are not always positive, with the way Artificial intelligence is advancing day by day, That brings us to the main point we are trying to figure out, how exactly Artificial intelligence is playing a major role in today’s society and how it plays a role on how people make decisions and solve problems. 

Background:

AI has had a history since the 1940s to about 1950s when the first computers were developed by Alan Turing. He had introduced a way to measure if a machine can imitate the same way humans can. Over time, this has introduced the birth of Artificial Intelligence. In today’s day and age, a lot has changed quickly. For instance, according to having less simple tools and more systems that can learn, create, and make decisions almost the same way humans can. One major shift would be the rise of generative AI, such tools like ChatGPT or DALLE can now write essays, generate images, code programs, and even mimic voices, when in the past this was not possible. Overall, AI had originally started out with simple ideas about thinking machines then eventually shifted toward mimicking human experts In different fields. Later on, AI rapidly advanced with faster computers and big amounts of data.

Artificial Intelligence Employment Impacts

  AI plays a crucial role in today’s society and our future generation in a variety of ways because it could negatively affect employees’ working experiences with how people are able to get employed, causing all sorts of job insecurity and drops in employment rates. This suggests that future generations would most likely need to develop new skills. Nowadays, AI is making jobs unclear and more stressful for employees trying to look for jobs. A great example of this is shown In the source named “The role of managerial risk-taking and AI-induced job insecurity” as Mai Nguyen states the fact that “employees tend to face a situation characterized by ambiguity of work and it is difficult to perceive an understanding of role, expectations and employment”. (Mai Nguyen, 2026). This explains how the advancements in AI are causing concerns on Job insecurity toward employees since AI is taking over most of the jobs done by humans. To add on, Mai Nguyen emphasizes on the fact that the way people work in today’s society is changing faster than our eyes are able to process and the way people are able to perform in their jobs. For instance, AI is becoming part of everyday work used as tools that can help write, code or analyze data. As a result of Artificial Intelligence taking over jobs and reducing employment rates, a lot of workers are feeling a sense of job insecurity wondering if their role in the job may change.

AI Affecting the content we watch and working with human

As we can tell, AI is drastically changing the way workers and employees view their job and have to find certain alternatives in case they lose their jobs. However, AI also plays an important role in working with humans and this is seen with the use of social media and the type of content people are able to watch. For instance, using the source “The intrinsically linked future for human and Artificial Intelligence interaction” Anthony Miller connects this article with the fact that Artificial intelligence is already a major part in everyday life, even if you don’t always notice it we are always using AI. It’s playing a role in how people communicate, learn, make decisions, and solve problems across many areas of society. According to the same source, Miller adds the fact that, “through technology and social media AI recommends certain videos and posts to show to the public on platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok, ect and Humans look at what videos to approve in order for others to watch” (Miller A, 2019). Overall, this negatively impacts us individuals because the content AI recommends can likely contain misleading information about any type of data it shows without humans taking much acknowledgement toward it.

Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts

Artificial Intelligence with the way it is used today is also negatively affecting our Environment by the usage of natural resources it takes to use AI. This must be acknowledged throughout every aspect because if it isn’t, our natural resources will compete with each other since we rely on these resources heavily for everyday activities. According to a very helpful source called, “Environmental considerations of using AI”, Elizabeth clearly highlights the fact on how much natural resources it comes with the use of AI on a daily basis, ““The production stage of AI includes the mining of natural resources such as cobalt, silicon, gold, and other metals. For example, making an approximately 4-pound computer housed in a data center requires around 1,763 pounds of raw materials.” (Elizabeth M, 2025) Based on this research, we can say that the use of raw materials will have a negative impact on the environment as it can cause prices to rise for these materials, lead to changes in climate, and water shortages. According to the same source, more evidence is revealed as the consumption of energy keeps increasing day by day with the technology of AI, “Data center energy consumption is estimated to be about 6 percent of the United States’ total electricity usage in 2026. In 2022, Google’s data center consumed about 5 billion gallons of fresh water for cooling, increasing by 20 percent from 2021.“ (Elizabeth M, 2025). We must take into account that the use of these resources can negatively impact the resources we use on a daily basis such as electricity for powering electronics, heating or cooling, appliances, ect. Using this research, we can make a conclusion that Artificial Intelligence has very harmful effects and plays an important role in our society when it comes to using too much natural resources and negatively impacting changes in the supply of water. 

  Artificial intelligence can help social behavior and public well-being

As AI keeps improving and advancing, it can serve as a source of therapy for other individuals who are looking to get help for their mental well being. AI can positively influence society by encouraging people to be kinder with the way they are. These ways include having empathetic conversations, methods on how to reduce anxiety or manage emotions, and even build a close bond. According to the source “The role of artificial intelligence in promoting kindness in society”, Ali clearly interprets how Artificial intelligence has the potential to influence social behavior and public well-being. In the text, researchers interviewed types of people such as experts, social scientists, religious leaders, developers, everyday users etc, and figured out that AI has the ability to improve emotional well being, encourage positive behavior, and help with educational purposes. The study looks at how AI can positively influence society by encouraging people to be kinder and more supportive. Some information from the article that supports this research is that “kind actions foster belonging, strengthen social bonds, and reduce isolation through volunteering, empathy, and prosocial behavior “(Rowland, 2018; Yusuf, 2020). As we acknowledge the information given, we can clearly see that AI isn’t just about technology, in fact it can shape how people treat each other on a daily basis and serve as a type of therapy tool for many individuals.

Counterclaim/Rebuttal:

On the other hand, some may believe that Artificial intelligence mimics human behavior, language, and doesn’t have a sense of empathy for individuals who are trying to have someone to express themselves with. Nevertheless, there is evidence shown that Artificial intelligence can improve people’s well being and actually serve as therapy. Using the same exact source used previously, “Researchers interviewed different types of people such as experts, social scientists, religious leaders, developers, everyday users etc, and found that AI has the ability to improve emotional well being, encourage positive behavior, and help with educational purposes.” This shows that, while AI may not truly feel any type of emotions, it can still provide meaningful support In ways that benefit users. As a result artificial intelligence should not be treated negatively entirely, but instead it should be understood as a tool that can positively impact people’s mental and emotional well being. 

Conclusion:

Overall, based on the evidence and research, it’s safe to say that Artificial Intelligence plays a crucial and important role in today’s society and will continue to in our future generation. In both positive and negative ways we don’t even notice it and it has become an essential part of modern life. Humans are able to shape, make decisions, solve problems, and interact with the world around them by controlling what AI is able to do such as suggesting what videos to recommend on social media, what types of Jobs they can take over, and how they can control environmental impacts. While AI can create challenges such as job insecurity and changes in work environments, it also opens opportunities for human collaboration. AI also has the potential to improve social behavior and overall well being by encouraging positive interactions and support systems. Overall, despite all the limitations that AI has, artificial intelligence will continue to evolve as a powerful tool that influences society in many ways.

Artifacts:

Revised Research Outline:

Research Outline
Clewdin De La Cruz
ENG 11000
Crystal Rodwell
March 31st, 2026

Research Question: In what ways will Artificial intelligence play a crucial role In
our future generation?

Introduction:

A. Opening statement: Artificial Intelligence is a tool that focuses on creating
machines and software that’s capable of performing tasks that require
humans, these tasks can involve learning, problem solving, decision
making, or even understanding different sorts of patterns.
B. Artificial intelligence as the way it’s used today plays a crucial role in
today’s day and age, most importantly, it is a tool we use on a daily basis
without us even noticing it.
C. Introduce the problem: Artificial intelligence is affecting the way society
moves on a daily basis making lives easier for humans but having
consequences that come with it.
D. Thesis Statement: Artificial Intelligence plays a major role In today’s
society by influencing how people make decisions, solve problems, and
interact with the world they are surrounded by and will continue to do so in
our future generation.

Background Information:

A. AI has had a history since the 1940s to about 1950s when the first computers
were developed by Alan Turing. In today’s day and age, a lot has changed
quickly, for instance having less simple tools and more systems that can learn,
create, and make decisions almost the way humans can.

B. Overall, AI had originally started out with simple ideas about thinking machines
then eventually shifted toward mimicking human experts in different fields, then
overtime, AI had rapidly advanced with faster computers and big amounts of
data.
III. Point 1: Artificial Intelligence Affects employees work experience Negatively
A. Explanation: AI plays a crucial role in our lives because it could negatively affect
the way people are able to get employed. Nowadays AI is making jobs unclear
and more stressful for employees trying to look for jobs.
B. Evidence: “employees tend to face a situation characterized by ambiguity of work
and it is difficult to perceive an understanding of role, expectations and
employment” (May Nguyen, 2026)
C. Connect evidence: the outcomes of hybrid working environments, The results
emphasize the need to ensure clear task specification, active lurking,
management risk-taking and proactive efforts to reduce the issue of AI induced
job insecurity as factors that enhance employee engagement.
Point 2: Artificial Intelligence allows humans and artificial intelligence to work
together

A. Explanation: AI also plays an important role in working with humans with
combinations involving big data and emerging technologies like quantum
computing and brain computer interfaces.
B. Evidence: “through technology and social media AI recommends certain
videos and posts to show to the public on platforms such as instagram,
tiktok, ect and Humans look at what videos to approve in order for others
to watch” (Miller A, 2019)
C. Connect Evidence: AI and human collaboration has huge future potentials
in certain fields of technology.
Point 3: Artificial Intelligence Enviornmental Impacts
A. Explanation: Artificial Intelligence as the way it is used today is negatively
affecting our Environment by the usage of natural resources it takes to use AI.
This must be acknowledged throughout every aspect because if it isn’t, our

natural resources will compete with each other since we rely on these resources
heavily for everyday activities.
B. Evidence: “The production stage of AI includes the mining of natural resources
such as cobalt, silicon, gold, and other metals. (Elizabeth M, 2025). “Data center
energy consumption is estimated to be about 6 percent of the United States’ total
electricity usage in 2026. In 2022, Google’s data center consumed about 5 billion
gallons of fresh water for cooling, increasing by 20 percent from 2021. “
(Elizabeth M, 2025)

C. Connect Evidence: Based on the evidence given based on the research, we can
make a statement that AI negatively impacts our usage in the amount of
resources we use on a daily basis.
Point 4: Artificial intelligence can help social behavior and public well-being
A. Explanation: AI can positively influence society by encouraging people to be
kinder with the way they are, these ways include having empathetic
conversations, methods on how to reduce anxiety or manage emotions, and
even building a close bond.
B. Evidence: Some information from the article that supports this research is that
“kind actions foster belonging, strengthen social bonds, and reduce isolation
through volunteering, empathy, and prosocial behavior (Rowland, 2018; Yusuf,
2020).”
C. Connect Evidence: AI isn’t just about technology, it can actually shape how
people treat each other on a daily basis and even serve as a type of therapy tool
In ways that can improve personalities and the way people socialize with others.

Rebuttal:

Counterargument: Artificial intelligence mimics human behavior, language and doesn’t
have a sense of empathy for individuals who are trying to have someone to express
themselves with.
Rebuttal: Artificial intelligence can improve people’s well being and actually serve as
therapy

Evidence: “Researchers interviewed different types of people such as experts, social
scientists, religious leaders, developers, everyday users etc, and found that AI has the
ability to improve emotional well being, encourage positive behavior, and help with
educational purposes.”

Conclusion:

A. Artificial Intelligence still plays a crucial and important role in today’s society on a
daily basis in ways we don’t even notice it and has become an essential part of
modern life, shaping how humans make decisions, solve problems, and interact
with the world around them.
B. While Ai can create challenges such as job insecurity and changes in work
environments, it also opens opportunities for human collaboration.
C. AI also has the potential to prove social behavior and overall well being by
encouraging positive interactions and support systems.
D. Overall, despite all the limitations that AI has, artificial intelligence will continue to
evolve as a powerful tool that influences society in many ways.

Reference Page:

Ebrahimian, A., Mansourian, M., Vahidi, S., & Alavi, F. (2026). The role of artificial
intelligence in promoting kindness in society: A qualitative study to advance well-being, equity,
and positive social change. Health Psychology Open, 13,
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/20551029251413309

Goyanes, M., Utz, S., & De Zúñiga, H. G. (2026). Trust in AI news, AI literacy, and the
mediating role of artificial intelligence attitudes: A longitudinal study across diverse societies.

Computers in Human Behavior Artificial Humans, 7, 100279.
https://www-sciencedirect-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/science/article/pii/S29498821260
00307

Miller, A. The intrinsically linked future for human and Artificial Intelligence interaction.
J Big Data 6, 38 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-019-0202-7

Nguyen, M., Nham, T. P., Alghafes, R., Gupta, B., & Szabó-Szentgróti, G. (2026).
Psychological foundations of ambiguity in the hybrid workplace: The role of managerial
risk-taking and AI-induced job insecurity. Acta Psychologica, 262, 106182.
https://www-sciencedirect-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/science/article/pii/S00016918250
14969

University of Maryland School of Medicine. (2025). Environmental considerations for
using AI. Elm.
https://elm.umaryland.edu/elm-stories/2025/Environmental-Considerations-for-Using-AI.php