From the newsroom

A few months ago, a group of graduating seniors in Skagit County had a lot to say to CDN about artificial intelligence.

They said the technology scares them. They worry about how it will affect the job market they'll graduate into. They wonder about the point of college now, given that many students are using AI to do their work. 

They shared stories about family members falling for politically motivated AI-generated videos and expressed their fears about people using the technology in extremely harmful ways.

But some of them also admitted to using it. It helps them come up with topic sentences or figure out conclusions to essays. What those seniors think about AI may be reflective of how students feel about artificial intelligence. It's now entering the classroom.

I approached school districts in the area this summer to find out more about their AI use policies. I also spent a good period of time talking to administrators and educators at Bellingham schools. I wanted to know what they thought about this technology and how they planned to address student use.

The big-picture answer: "We need to teach students how to use these tools ethically and responsibly." Read more about local districts' approach to AI here.

Today's news

Tom Kallman walks down College Way during a Labor Day march in Mount Vernon on Sept. 1. (Santiago Ochoa/Cascadia Daily News)

Hundreds march in Mount Vernon to support workers, unions

AI has entered the classroom in Bellingham — how are students and teachers using it?

Regence exiting individual marketplace in Whatcom County

How to build a (mostly) homemade meal around locally-made dumplings

Prep volleyball preview: Lynden's Campbell DeJong

Guest writer: Ferry terminals, San Juan Islanders' lifeline, are fraying due to contracting

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Weekend catch-up 

Cary Gustafsen, a Bellingham Food Bank staff member, helps place a box of food inside a person's car in July. (Santiago Ochoa/Cascadia Daily News)

'We hardly leave the house': Quiet impacts of federal deportation efforts on families

Fall 2025 prep sports preview: Big shoes need to be filled for a successful season

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe to Cascadia Daily News