The Quiet Panic Behind AI Academic Shortcuts

Because of AI, it's easier to not try in school anymore. Instead of flunking out of high school as you’d used to, you pass as a valedictorian with a fourth-grade reading level. One day in the near future, this may be the norm.

Every generation, whether you're a baby boomer or even Gen Alpha, has become accustomed to using or seeing AI-generated content in their day-to-day lives. We’ve talked about the environmental effects AI has had on our world, but we haven’t discussed its effects on our brains.

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The majority of students from middle school to college are using AI for their schoolwork. Instead of letting our brains finish developing, we’re putting them on the back burner for quick, convenient solutions to our busy work.

I understand how tedious schoolwork can be, especially as someone who is fresh into college. I’m often overloaded with assignments for school and my jobs. I feel the need to get something over with quickly. However, as someone with a passion for writing and art, I have my own vices about using AI for anything when my future careers are at stake—though I have caved now and then.

With that said, I don’t speak for every student.

Show Us the Science

Studies have shown that a majority of students use AI for their work, and there are a multitude of reasons why. From summarizing notes to fully writing essays, students have begun to lean on AI in their academic careers.

What’s often not discussed is the cognitive decline that comes with the widespread use of AI, especially among young people. Because our brains are not fully developed, we’re not allowing ourselves to think independently when AI has all the answers.

In an interview with Polytechnique Insights, Ioan Roxin, a professor at Marie et Louis Pasteur University, elaborates on the risk of using AI: “From a neurological standpoint, widespread use of this AI carries the risk of overall cognitive atrophy and loss of brain plasticity. The study, the results of which are still in preprint, found that using the internet, and even more so ChatGPT, significantly reduced cognitive engagement and ‘relevant cognitive load’, i.e., the intellectual effort required to transform information into knowledge.”

Another study written by Michael Gerlich, “AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and the Future of Critical Thinking,” shows the results for what Roxin warns: “Our findings indicate that cognitive offloading significantly mediates the relationship between AI usage and critical thinking, suggesting that the reduction in cognitive load may lead to diminished opportunities for cognitive engagement and critical analysis.”

Even with several studies showing the worsening effects AI has on our minds, nothing seems to change much. People still use AI daily, and students remain dependent on the machine.

AI Academic Shortcut Examples

I asked some of my friends and college peers about their experiences surrounding AI academic shortcuts and what worries they might have. Their responses range from annoyance to confusion about the uncomfortable acceptance peers demonstrate:

Doctors and Lawyers Lacking Analytical Skills

“It’s so annoying,” says one friend majoring in Chemistry, "particularly in STEM. Like, people becoming doctors. Bro, don’t give this guy a patient!”

“I’ve seen classmates use it at least once per every class that I’m in,” mentions a colleague studying law. “My friends use it either to cheat in class or brainstorm. I personally use it whenever I’m lost with the direction to take a paper, but I don’t use it for everything.”

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Cheating, Time Saver, or Tutor?

A Biochem major offers her view: “I most often see it used as a replacement for previous forms of cheating on assignments. Though there have been plenty of cases where it can be used as an easily accessible source of practice tests/tutoring that sometimes get really [confusing].”

“I think I mostly see people using AI for writing assignments and essays,” a Public Health major explains to me. “I know there are people who only really use it for things they didn’t have time for or who use it for steps of the process like making an outline or finding sources.”

Another friend tells me of his use of AI as a Criminology major: “I’ve used it for last-minute outlines or even drafts in the past, which I didn’t feel great about. Recently, I had a paper due last-minute that I ended up using AI for by sending it my sources and asking it to make a long list of quotes. It saved me some really valuable time re-reading a bunch of 40-page reports, and I was able to spend that time writing a better essay.”

“I had a group project where one member was just constantly using AI for all of their sections, and I ended up having to re-write all of them because they were just totally incoherent and didn’t make sense in the context of the project,” a dejected Political Science major informed me.

Professors Are Also Using AI

“With being in STEM, [AI] can help generate graphs if you don’t know how to do it or help them write a correct lab report,” says another Biochem major. “As for how often, pretty often, strangely! My criminology professor… everything she uses is AI?? Like, she has us listen to her podcast when it's just an AI voice. And she loves her [generated] pictures lol… Everyone is so, like, weirdly but awkwardly supportive of it?? It’s not as shunned in person as it is online.”

Most of the people I know are more anti-AI, but with a crushing deadline and five assignments due by midnight, it becomes harder to stretch our mental capacity. I have even used it (albeit regrettably) for outlines to an essay or story idea, though rarely.

It picks up the slack of my shorthandedness, but if it comes to the point where I cannot think without the machine, I am no better than it. I fear not many people are as like-minded.

Feed the Machine or Your Mind

It would be impossible to change everyone's minds with a single blog post about their opinions on AI. But the least I can do is warn you of the damage it can cause and wish you would learn more about what you feed your brain.

Has any of this given you pause? Is a 60% faster completion rate on homework or deadlines really worth the cost of your ability to think for yourself? Only time will tell, as the clock ticks down on our inevitable cognitive decline.

The Future of Learning

As we navigate this AI-driven landscape, we must consider the long-term implications of our choices. Are we sacrificing our critical thinking skills for convenience? The answer may lie in how we choose to integrate AI into our learning processes.

While AI can be a helpful tool, it shouldn't replace our ability to think critically and creatively. We need to find a balance that allows us to leverage technology while still engaging our minds.

Embracing Traditional Learning Methods

Let’s not forget the value of traditional learning methods. Reading books, engaging in discussions, and writing by hand can enhance our cognitive abilities. These practices stimulate our brains and encourage deeper understanding.

Incorporating these methods alongside AI can create a well-rounded educational experience. We can use AI for efficiency while still nurturing our intellectual growth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the rise of AI in education presents both opportunities and challenges. It's essential to recognize the potential cognitive decline that may result from over-reliance on technology. We must strive to maintain our critical thinking skills and creativity in an increasingly automated world.

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