AI is cheating students out of real learning

A WORRYING trend is emerging among students; some now proudly admit to using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT to complete their assignments, believing it is a clever or efficient way to study.

But this mindset is more harmful than helpful. Relying on AI to do the thinking is not a shortcut to success. It is a shortcut that weakens learning.

AI-generated work might appear good enough to pass as a decent assignment. But what it often lacks is originality, critical thought and personal reflection. These are the very qualities that define real education and personal growth.

When students skip the hard work of writing, problem-solving or reflecting, they miss the opportunity to develop essential skills such as creativity, analytical thinking and resilience.

These are the qualities that employers are looking for, and AI can’t replace them.

Using AI to generate essays or solve equations may seem efficient, but it creates a false sense of competence. Students may appear productive, but their ability to think independently is quietly eroding.

It is like an athlete who skips training and still expects to win the race.

A recent study by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that students who used ChatGPT to write essays showed much lower brain activity compared to those who wrote without it. Many struggled to recall what they had written, and their essays often lacked originality or personal insight.

In the real world, there are no shortcuts.

Employers are increasingly reporting that new graduates often lack basic skills in problem-solving and independent thinking. These deficiencies do not just affect academic performance, but they also impact job success, team dynamics and long-term career growth.

An AI tool will not be there during a tense business pitch or when a system crashes unexpectedly. What truly matters is not how well a student used AI tools in university but how well they learned to think, adapt and solve problems under pressure.

Ultimately, students must take responsibility for their own learning. AI can be a helpful support tool, but it should never replace the effort needed to think, reason and learn.

Students must ask themselves why they are in school. Is it to simply complete tasks or to grow into capable and thoughtful individuals?

Using AI to brainstorm ideas or check language use can enhance learning. However, allowing it to replace genuine thinking takes away the very skills they came to schools and university to develop.

Education is not just about getting grades; it is about building the confidence and capacity to think clearly, act responsibly and grow continuously.

Every student has a responsibility to own their learning journey. The tools we use should support us in becoming better learners, not passive ones.

True success does not come from copying what a machine says. It comes from developing your own ideas, voice and understanding.

In an age full of shortcuts, the ability to think critically is the most important skill of all.

DR WU SHIN LING

School of Psychology

Sunway University