Pupils Worry AI Is Undermining Study Skills, Research Suggests

Many pupils fear that artificial intelligence is weakening their ability to study, with a significant number saying it makes schoolwork “too easy” and reduces creativity, according to new research.

Wider Studies

The OUP research comes alongside wider academic studies examining the impact of AI on learning. One study published this year by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) measured brain activity during essay writing among students using large language models such as ChatGPT, and warned of potential long-term educational implications from over-reliance on such tools.

Nearly half of the 2,000 students surveyed by OUP said they were worried that classmates were using AI secretly for schoolwork without teachers being able to detect it. Many also said they wanted more guidance from teachers on how to use AI appropriately and how to judge whether its outputs are reliable. In response, OUP has announced the launch of a new AI education hub to support teachers.

School Experience

Daniel Williams, assistant headteacher and AI lead at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School in Birmingham, said the findings reflected his experience in schools. He said pupils often recognised AI’s value for creativity, revision and problem-solving, but frequently used it as a shortcut rather than as a learning aid.

While just 31% of students said AI had no negative impact on their skills, many also reported positive effects. Around 18% said AI helped them understand problems better, while 15% said it helped them generate “new and better” ideas. Some pupils described improved understanding in subjects such as maths and said using AI helped them think more quickly.

Handsam Resources

Example AI Policy

Study by Oxford University Press (OUP),

A study on the use of AI in UK schools, commissioned by Oxford University Press (OUP), found that AI is now widely embedded in pupils’ learning. Only 2% of students aged 13 to 18 said they never used AI for schoolwork, while 80% reported using it regularly.

Despite its popularity, 62% of students said AI had a negative impact on their skills and development. One in four agreed that AI “makes it too easy for me to find the answers without doing the work myself”, while 12% said it limits their creative thinking. Similar proportions said they were less likely to solve problems independently or write creatively.

Alexandra Tomescu, OUP’s generative AI and machine learning product specialist, said the findings showed a high level of awareness among young people about both the benefits and risks of AI. She noted that around 60% of students were concerned that AI encourages copying rather than original work, describing this as evidence of a “sophisticated and mature understanding” of the technology’s role in education.