A recent study has revealed that students are concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their education. According to the research, 62% of students believe AI has negatively impacted their skills and development at school. Many students reported that AI makes schoolwork "too easy" and limits their creativity and problem-solving skills. Specifically, one in four students agreed that AI "makes it too easy for me to find the answers without doing the work myself," while 12% said AI "limits my creative thinking".
The study, commissioned by Oxford University Press (OUP), surveyed over 2,000 students aged 13 to 18 and found that 80% of students regularly use AI for schoolwork. However, many students expressed concerns about the potential drawbacks of relying on AI, including the risk of not developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Nearly half of the students surveyed worried that their classmates were "secretly using AI" for schoolwork without detection by teachers.
Experts emphasize the need for guidance on using AI effectively in education. Daniel Williams, an assistant headteacher and AI lead at Bishop Vesey's grammar school in Birmingham, notes that many pupils recognize AI's value for creativity, revision, and problem-solving but often use it as a shortcut rather than a learning tool. To address this issue, OUP is launching a new AI education hub aimed at supporting teachers in integrating AI responsibly into their classrooms.
The study's findings highlight the complex role AI plays in education, presenting both benefits and risks. While some students reported that AI helped them gain new skills, including understanding problems and coming up with "new and better" ideas, others expressed concerns about its impact on their learning. As one 15-year-old student noted, "I have been able to understand maths better and it helps me to solve difficult questions." By providing guidance and support, educators can help students use AI effectively and responsibly.
