Artificial intelligence is an inescapable key player in a world intertwined with education. It is up to the students to decide how they utilize AI such as Chat-GPT into their academic lives, either as a tool of assistance to independent thinking or as a shortcut that risks undermining it. Acknowledging this reality, teachers and administrators have created an environment which allows students to access AI as an outlet for ideas and support, not as a replacement for human intellect.

Data from the College Board shows that 69% of high school students report using Chat-GPT to assist with school assignments and homework, as of May 2025. This research suggests that as an increasing number of students are heavily using AI to assist in completing tasks, many now risk having weakened independent thinking skills and lacking authenticity in their work.
When surveying 55 Horace Greeley High School students about how often they use Chat-GPT to get their work done, 100% of students responded they use AI daily. 91% of these students have used ChatGPT and other generative AI tools to complete school work. Through these results, it is reasonable to conclude that increased Chat-GPT usage may affect students’ ability to think on their own by encouraging dependence on AI generative responses. While Chat-GPT can be seen as an academic resource, incorporating AI into education can erode critical thinking skills that are necessary for creativity and reasoning.

Many students use AI as an outline for brainstorming and a foundation for ideas. However, usage can quickly escalate to becoming a replacement for problem solving and autonomy. AI can be easily abused by students, as many use it to increase efficiency in getting work done, rather than learning from it. Additionally, it can become difficult to distinguish genuine thoughts and AI produced work, which not only raises ethical concerns but discourages students from forming unique perspectives that are created from education.
In an industrial technological world, it is impossible to escape Chat-GPT. Therefore, students must decide how they choose to establish their relationship with AI, not letting it hinder their ability to think creatively. AI should be utilized as a tool for growth, rather than human replacement.

Works Cited

https://www.ibm.com/think/insights/artificial-intelligence-advantages-disadvantages
https://newsroom.collegeboard.org/new-research-majority-high-school-students-use-generative-ai-schoolwork