As the new school year begins, artificial intelligence has moved firmly into the classroom, with new tools designed to support students in assignments, revision, and test preparation. But a fresh survey suggests a tension between AI's appeal and its impact on learning.
A growing dependence
A Common Sense Media survey of more than 1,000 American teenagers found that 70% use AI for schoolwork, as reported by Forbes. Among those students, 63% said they use it to obtain answers in ways that can hand some of their thinking over to the machine. Around 40% of the surveyed teenagers suspected that AI is not helping them learn, and about six in ten of those who use AI said they do so to get an answer for their schoolwork. A quarter of students using AI for schoolwork did not bother to rephrase the response, while 31% changed the wording to make it sound like their own.
The survey also found that almost three-quarters of students said they have not been instructed on how to use AI safely. In cases where schools block AI platforms, six in ten pupils turned to personal devices to access chatbots for help with assignments.
Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, commented: "Students understand that AI threatens learning, but the reality is that it is too tempting and convenient for them to look the other way."
A broader concern about AI's cognitive impact
Beyond immediate schoolwork, the research appears amid broader questions about AI's effect on thinking and employment. A Pew Research Center survey, also covered by Forbes, found that 52% of all age groups are concerned that AI could lead to mass unemployment. For the first time, a majority of young adults are more concerned than excited about AI, with only 10% of under-30s feeling excited. Separately, Microsoft found in 2025 multiple signs of reduced cognitive effort and less critical thinking in a survey of more than 300 knowledge workers.
AI companies respond with new education tools
In response to the increasing use of AI, several tech companies have introduced features intended to support learning rather than merely provide answers. OpenAI's ChatGPT for Teens is being introduced for users ages 13 to 17, with automatic placement into a teen experience for those identified as under 18. The experience includes Study Mode, quizzes, learning visualizations, and responsible homework reminders. If users appear to be seeking a shortcut, the system can redirect them to questions and guided problem solving.
Google has integrated Gemini into Google Classroom, allowing it to use assignments, teacher instructions, and selected curriculum materials to create flashcards, quizzes, and study guides. Google's new study notebooks ask what you already know, then add your class notes, readings, and syllabus to create a diagnostic quiz, identify knowledge gaps, and produce shorter lessons around those gaps. A dashboard tracks progress and recommends what to study next. Google Search is also adding interactive visuals, practice quizzes, and guided help through Lens. Gemini offers full-length SAT practice tests at no cost, using material from The Princeton Review, and highlights strengths and areas needing work.
Microsoft's Copilot learning coach 'Study and Learn' is designed for students ages 13 and over, requiring Microsoft 365 Education school with administrator access. It uses questions, flashcards, quizzes, matching activities, and immediate feedback, and Microsoft says it is designed around the concept of 'productive struggle.'
Other notable updates
Khan Academy has updated its Writing Coach for students in grades 5 through 12, with feedback focusing on thesis and focus, evidence and reasoning, structure and organization, and language. The Quizlet app in ChatGPT can turn a conversation, notes, or an uploaded document into a set of flashcards. Canva Code 2.0 became available to free Canva users in July, allowing creation of interactive websites, apps, and games. IBM SkillsBuild offers free courses for high school students ages 13 to 18, including 'Foundations in Generative AI' and 'AI Agents Unveiled,' plus an AI Fundamentals credential covering prompt writing, machine learning, neural networks, ethics, bias, and responsible AI use.
A cautionary note on safety
The survey's concerns about lack of instruction on safe AI use aligns with earlier findings. In July, the Youth AI Safety Institute at Common Sense Media gave Google's AI Search features its lowest safety rating, Forbes notes. During more than 2,600 test interactions, researchers found inaccurate answers, weak sources, and serious safety failures, including that AI Mode completed every homework assignment it was given. Google disputed the methodology, but Forbes says the findings are worth taking seriously.
Forbes also shares a personal recommendation: 'The most impressive AI user is not the student who generates the fastest answer. It is the student who knows when to use it, when to question it, and when to close it.'