Frequent use of AI reduces students’ ability to think critically

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AI is now a normal part of student life. We use it to find ideas, understand difficult topics, check our work or even write assignments. It can save a lot of time, but the more we use it, the more we may start relying on it instead of thinking for ourselves.

Author / translator Julia Kaleta

AI is now a normal part of student life. We use it to find ideas, understand difficult topics, check our work or even write assignments. It can save a lot of time, but the more we use it, the more we may start relying on it instead of thinking for ourselves.
So, does AI make studying easier, or does it make us think less?

Created 16 September 2026

Last edited 16 September 2026

Topics Education, Technology

Policy positions

Policy position 1

Universities should limit the use of AI. Students need to practise thinking, writing and solving problems on their own

Policy position 2

Students should be allowed to use AI, but there should be clear rules about what is acceptable and what is not

Policy position 3

AI does not necessarily make students think less. If used correctly, it can help them understand topics, find different perspectives and develop their ideas

Policy position 4

Students should be free to use AI. It is already part of modern education and future jobs, so students should learn how to use it effectively

Story cards

Julia is a university student who has an important essay to write. She is busy and does not know how to start, so she asks AI for help.
At first, she only uses AI to find ideas and organise her thoughts. Later, she asks it to write some parts of the essay for her.
When the essay is finished, Julia starts wondering: did AI help her learn, or did it do the thinking for her?

Student and AI

A professor notices that many students are using AI for their assignments. Some students can no longer explain the arguments in their own essays.

The Professor

A company is looking for graduates who know how to use AI. Students who have experience with AI may have an advantage when applying for jobs.

The employer

A student uses AI to challenge their ideas. They ask it for different opinions and counterarguments, but they check the information and make the final decisions themselves.

The critical thinker

INFO CARDSISSUE CARDS

AI and essays

A student uses AI to write most of an essay and only makes a few changes before submitting it

AI as a study fool

A student uses AI to explain a difficult topic, but then studies the topic and does the assignment independently.

Learning or cheating?

A student uses AI to generate ideas, arguments and examples for an assignment. The final text is written by the student.

AI and exams

A university is considering allowing students to use AI during take-home exams.

AI in Student Life

A student asks ChatGPT to write an entire essay and submits it without making many changes.

AI Can Help

A student uses AI to explain a difficult article, but then reads the original and writes their own assignment.

The Risk of Dependence

A student asks AI for ideas for a presentation and then develops one of the ideas independently.

Think for Yourself

A university wants to ban AI during take-home exams because it is difficult to know who wrote the answers.