Pariksha Pe Charcha: Technology should be a tool, not a crutch, say experts

Alongside tech expert and YouTuber Gaurav Chaudhary—popularly known as “Technical Guruji”—Gupta stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between digital assistance and personal skills.

“In a professional context, if our skills are overshadowed by technology, it becomes problematic. I strive to make technology my servant, not my master,” Gupta said.

She cautioned against the overuse of AI. “My passion is writing, framing sentences, and playing with words. I don’t want AI to write an 800-word essay for me; I want to do it myself. I constantly remind myself not to rely on AI for this, even if it takes longer.”

Chaudhary added that while technology has undeniably simplified many aspects of life, it has also impaired our ability to retain simple information, like phone numbers.

“Our dependency on technology must not come at the cost of our skill sets, creativity, and core identity,” he said.

“I think a teacher’s role is to provide wisdom and experience. Just like an English teacher wants to demonstrate how to write well, they can use AI to showcase a few good examples in the classroom…The teacher can use it as a slave though guiding it,” Chaudhary said.

“Think of AI as an assistant that can do all the tasks you want, and the best part is — it doesn’t even take a salary…,” he added.

Earlier, Gupta pointed out that this year’s Pariksha Pe Charcha addressed modern challenges—issues such as AI integration and mental health that were barely on the radar two decades ago.

“Platforms like ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ provide students with an opportunity to openly discuss mental health, time management, and technology-related concerns as they face the immense stress and pressure in today’s fast-paced world,” she said.

Gupta also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his ability to connect with and inspire individuals—from athletes to professionals—by engaging with them as both a friend and a motivator.