St. John’s students teach responsible AI use to high school visitors

More than 25 students from Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter High School in Brooklyn visited St. John’s University’s Queens campus on October 14 for its third interactive AI College Day. University students led demonstrations, discussions and hands-on activities focused on using AI responsibly, ethically and critically.

The presenters, enrolled in the university’s AI-focused First-Year Seminar, examined how AI works, gathers information and can produce biased content. Sessions covered gaming data privacy, digital security, job materials and college application readiness. Practical advice included limiting information shared through public gaming profiles, choosing unique passwords and enabling multifactor authentication. University students also guided visitors around campus.

For college searches and applications, presenters described using AI to narrow options, manage deadlines, brainstorm essay ideas and receive feedback. Finance student Krish Singh shared how ChatGPT helped him explore St. John’s business programs and campus culture. Students emphasized that applicants should retain their own voice rather than have AI write their essays. High school participants said the sessions reinforced AI’s value as an organizational and research tool while underscoring the need for independent judgment and original work.