Schools debate how to use AI without hurting critical thinking

In short: AI is becoming normal in classrooms, but many teachers, students, and professors worry it can weaken critical thinking when it is used as a shortcut.

What's going on

Surveys and reports in 2026 show a growing split in education. Many people see AI as helpful, but a large share think it is making students do less of the mental work that builds strong thinking skills.

A nationally representative NPR poll found that 54% of teachers say AI makes it harder for students to learn critical thinking. Education Week reported that nearly 7 in 10 middle and high school students worry AI could erode their critical thinking. It also reported that 70% of college students share that concern.

Faculty concerns are also widespread. The College Board reported that more than 84% of faculty agree AI reduces students’ critical thinking, originality, and deep engagement with course material. The OECD, a group that studies education and the economy, warned that using “generative AI” (tools that write text or make images from prompts, like an autocomplete on steroids) as a shortcut can replace the effort students need to learn deeply.

At the same time, the OECD and other education sources say AI can help when teachers use it on purpose. A simple way to put it is that AI can either offload thinking or scaffold thinking (like training wheels that still make you pedal). Studies suggest AI can improve writing and problem-solving when students must justify their answers, verify facts, and revise their work.

What to watch

Schools are moving toward “AI literacy,” which means teaching students when to use AI and when not to. Watch for more assignments and tests that require students to show their steps, check AI output against reliable sources, and explain ideas in their own words.

Source: NYTimes