Researchers warn AI use in classrooms may erode students' critical-thinking skills
Education researcher Lixiang Yan of Tsinghua University found that an agentic AI tool called Codex could independently complete assignments, answer questions and join discussions without any student engagement. Surveys cited include one of over 1,000 US faculty members where 90% expect generative AI to weaken students' critical-thinking abilities, and a global survey of more than 8,000 higher-education students where about 20% said AI already makes it harder for them to work through problems unaided.