Equity in the Use of ChatGPT for the Classroom: A Comparison of the Accuracy and Precision of ChatGPT 3.5 vs. ChatGPT4 with Respect to Statistics and Data Science Exams

The association of social mobility with a college education has been studied since the early 1950's [1]. Although there are some indications that a college education is not as effective as it once was in helping graduates climb the social ladder [2], it is still the most reliable way of doing so. US News & World Report updated its rankings in 2023 to include social mobility [3], and many institutions of higher education are paying more attention to recruitment of first-generation college students and talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds. With the inclusion of such students in the typical college class comes some important considerations. For example, a student from difficult financial circumstances with an academic background to match the profile of any student an elite institution will have more difficulty paying for textbooks, a laptop, a smartphone, and other items that are almost essential to current college life [2]. As of November 2022, one such item that students from advantaged backgrounds will have access to that those from lower income brackets will not is ChatGPT4 [4]. It currently costs $20 per month for a subscription and has been called a "significant leap forward" compared to ChatGPT3.5 [5], which is free [6]. While use of generative AI is prohibited in some college classrooms, this is hard to police, and many students use it regardless of classroom restrictions [7]. When generative AI is allowed, there is a wide array of platforms from which students can choose.