Most students are using AI to enhance learning, not outsource it, research shows

Contrary to alarming headlines suggesting that “ChatGPT Has Unraveled the Entire Academic Project” and “AI Cheating Is Getting Worse,” we discovered that students primarily use AI to enhance their learning rather than to avoid work.

Despite this article having a limited sample size, it does seem to add to other research showing that students are not just using AI to “cheat” in school, but to enhance their learning by filling in knowledge gaps they may have. As an educator and a parent of two wonderful high-schoolers, I can vouch for this type of behavior. In my experience, most students want to do well in school and learn everything they can, and if AI systems like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and others can help them do that, I am all for it. It is up to us—parents, educators, and other community members—to help them navigate this world of ours and teach them to develop critical thinking skills so that they may discern what is fact, fiction, and everything in between. Question everything and find the source(s) of truth. In other words, trust, but verify.