On North Central’s official social media pages, an AI-generated video was released introducing the school’s new house system. The video quickly received significant backlash from students due to its heavy use of artificial intelligence and the unauthorized inclusion of student images. Many students expressed concern that their photos were used in the video without their knowledge or consent, raising serious questions about privacy and respect for student rights.

Rather than engaging with student feedback, the school chose to disable the comments on the post entirely. This action silenced the student body and directly contradicted North Central’s stated values. In the video, the narrator claims, “At North Central, we celebrate effort, kindness, creativity, and growth” (Video 1). Yet, the use of generic AI-generated scripts, visuals, and filters instead of authentic student contributions makes the final product feel disingenuous—a misrepresentation of our community.

The use of AI in this context is especially troubling given the broader implications. Not only does AI require massive data centers and cooling systems that consume large amounts of water, but its use in school-sponsored media directly conflicts with how it's treated in the classroom. Teachers consistently discourage the use of AI tools for assignments and promote original thought and creativity. How can students be expected to avoid AI reliance when the school itself uses it to communicate major announcements?

If North Central truly values its students’ creativity and voice, it should reflect that in both its content and its practices, starting with listening to our student body and stopping the usage of AI.