The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) greatly affects all aspects of life as we know it, especially how teens are learning in schools. The two most popular examples of AI tools for students are the use of ChatGPT for writing papers and summarizing material out of textbooks.
The newest classroom innovations allow students to create in new and exciting ways, such as increased student motivation and helping students with diverse learning styles succeed. However, there are several important questions that arise about the increased use of classroom tech innovations. Is this a form of cheating? Will this cause us to think less independently? Can I actually trust what AI tells me? These are all valid questions, and the importance of preparing teens to learn and understand AI is critical. A teen’s knowledge of how it works, (and how to appropriately use it), will lead to students being empowered by AI rather than being victimized by it, and to students not being negatively impacted by AI’s misuse, mistakes, and/or misinformation.
How Teens Are Already Using AI in School
More teens are using AI in school than most adults may realize. A survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in August 2024 found that over 60 percent of high school students in the United States had used generative AI tools for students such as ChatGPT at least once, with many using generative AI tools on a regular weekly basis for their writing, studying, or summarizing material.
AI tools for students allow them to brainstorm ideas, understand challenging subjects, and better articulate their thoughts. In a recent education study, high school students shared that they often use AI as a sounding board to generate new ideas, reword confusing instructions, or help them approach a problem in a different way. Some said it helps them feel more confident tackling unfamiliar assignments.
Still, most teens recognize that there’s a fine line. Some admitted they’ve seen classmates rely on AI too heavily, sometimes submitting work they didn’t fully understand or fact-check. That’s why students themselves say it’s important to create clear rules, talk about ethical use, and build digital responsibility into everyday learning.
Risks and Downsides Teens Should Know
While a powerful resource for students, AI may also carry considerable responsibility and risk for users.
Academics without Integrity
Many colleges are still trying to define ethical boundaries for student use of AI. According to a recent faculty survey, 95% of professors believe students are becoming too dependent on AI, and many describe this dependence as being more like a crutch than a tool. While it is acceptable to use AI to generate ideas for assignments, it is unethical to simply copy an entire answer generated by AI and will likely violate school policy.
Over-Reliance on Technology = Loss of Skill
International educational organizations have warned that students run the risk of avoiding their own learning and cognitive development by using AI as a shortcut in their academic pursuits. If students use AI for every thought and response, they will never develop any ability to think critically or express themselves in written form.
Hallucinations of AI Technology
AI tools are not perfect nor know all; they merely produce text based on predictive analytics. This means they can generate facts and create fictitious references, generating misinformation or biased responses; these are called ‘hallucinations’. The misinformation generated by an AI tool can sometimes be difficult for a person to identify unless a person verifies this information before utilizing it.
Digital Literacy Skills Teens Need
For students to succeed in the world of AI technology, they must develop critical thinking skills as opposed to just being quick users of this type of technology.
Check the Source: AI is not accurate 100% of the time. Because AI tools for students like ChatGPT can sound confident, they may also be 100% wrong. Identifying common signs of trouble, such as broken logic or outdated databases, will help you establish trust in the information provided by AI tool; therefore, always validate critical data with a credible source such as school-based or other authorizing databases.
Ask Thoughtful Questions: Creating more sophisticated prompts will encourage AI to provide better responses with multiple perspectives, resources, step-by-step explanations, and possible solutions. In addition, ask thought-provoking questions when appropriate to enhance your learning experience.
Recognize Bias and Gaps: Just like websites and media, AI can reflect bias. If it’s trained mostly on content from one culture or point of view, it may ignore or misrepresent others. Some students have found that AI struggles with inclusive language, diversity topics, or lesser-known histories. That’s another reason why it’s important to use AI as one input- not the only voice.
By staying curious and skeptical, teens can strengthen their own critical thinking. That means recognizing bias, noticing missing perspectives, and looking for evidence that supports- or challenges- what AI says.
Final Thoughts: Using AI Responsibly in School
AI will continue to be a part of your daily life moving forward; however, it is up to you to determine if AI serves as your assistant or as your shortcut.
Teens should constantly remind themselves:
- AI is used to support and not replace thought and creativity.
- ALL facts must be verified, and the student must understand the material presented.
- The student’s work must reflect their opinions.
When utilized appropriately, AI tools for students can make studying easier, assist in organization, enhance creativity, etc. As such, it is the sole responsibility of students to use AI appropriately and not become reliant upon it as a resource. Let technology enable you, not limit you.
