Cheating used to mean copying from a friend; now it means copying from AIs such as ChatGPT or Gemini. But is this how AI should actually be used? AI can do many wonderful things, from helping teachers create lesson plans and refine tests, to helping students learn material and give suggestions on how to improve work such as essays or check work such as math worksheets. AI can be a useful tool. It just has to be used the right way.
Students turn to AI because it can be the difference between getting a failing grade or getting an A. That is why generative AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini are used. In fact, colleges such as the College of Illinois have found that “AI can help you tailor your content to individual student needs and learning styles”.
Lucas Braem (‘28) said that generative AI “can figure out what they’re struggling with and give them extra practice or simpler explanations. It lets them learn at their own pace without feeling embarrassed to ask for help.”
Teachers who have seen students struggling or are too shy to seek help might use ChatGPT or MagicSchool AI to help students with specific lessons. In fact, according to an article from the Federal Office of Communications, Department of Education, you can use AI to create high quality lessons and can give feedback to struggling students. This is something students can do on their own as well.
“What I’ve started doing is going to ChatGPT and asking it to help me with work I am struggling with,” said Assael Fabre (‘26).
In these ways AI can extend learning outside of class. According to an online report from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, AI can “also be helpful outside of the classroom if it can provide feedback when the teacher is not available.”
“Using AI is like having someone there to help you figure stuff out when your teacher’s not around, and it’s nice for catching up or going deeper on a subject,” said Dhruvan Reddy (‘28).
Even with these benefits, there are still disadvantages. The biggest is students using AI to finish work instead of helping themselves finish it. What some may not realize is that an overreliance on AI cannot be fixed with small amounts of time. “AI can take away creativity and the desire to do work, making it harder to finish tasks without help. You get used to how fast it makes things easier,” said Reddy.
AI has both the power to improve people’s education, and ruin their education. AI offers new opportunities for personalized support, but students and teachers must use it carefully. The focus should be on improving a person’s critical thinking and creativity, not replacing it.
