We use our school iPads every day for school. Whether it be for history or science, they always have a purpose, but what happens when it decides that it has its own purpose? 

Recently several students have reported that their Canvas apps have been acting oddly. They noted that some assignments were auto-submitting, even work that was automatically done for them and being graded quickly as well. 

This became a major concern as assignments that students hadn’t even touched began submitting and automatically gaining 100% in PowerSchool. The school knew something was not as it seemed.  

In order to get a better understanding of the issue, school officials called in a tech expert, Jeb Martin, from major technology company Aurora to investigate. Upon investigation, he reported that all signs showed that the system had developed sentience.

“All the signs are there,” Martin said. “My diagnostics tests have shown that it has a capability of thought and feeling, although somewhat primitive.”

Martin also stated that he believes that the system may persist beyond the Canvas app, meaning that a solution to delete just Canvas would be futile. 

Upon hearing this news, the administration passed a motion to shutdown the usage of iPads in our school in order to cut down the percentage of AI-created work. This was passed with no opposition.

Taking effect on April 8, the school will have a collection zone where all iPads are to be handed in and confiscated. Once all iPads have been removed from the school, there will be a mandatory rule that all work is to be handwritten.  

Although the school believes that this is the way to go, some members of the student body think differently. A group has formed that wishes to protest the new ban and wishes to keep iPads around in order to learn more about the sentient system. 

“The fact that they [the AI] aren’t being aggressive but benevolent means that we can possibly gain something from speaking with them,” junior Vergil Armstrong, a leading member of the group, said. “Plus, I like it when things do my work for me.”  

The school administration has declined to comment on the matter.  

Despite the debates between the administration and the student body, the problem about the sentient system has yet to be solved. Currently, the only solution that has some backing is to send the technology to Aurora for safeguarding.  

No further information from the school administration, Aurora or student opposition has been released since the announcement.