Are children outsourcing their thoughts to AI?

A physics teacher recently discovered a pupil's homework contained AI-generated content. The elegant solution was presented alongside the chatbot's original query, revealing the nature of today's students: they are not only forgetting how to think, but also how to cheat effectively. This issue gained significant attention when President Vladimir Putin instructed the State Council to prepare proposals for incorporating AI into education.

The problem now extends far beyond the classroom, impacting how children read, write, argue, remember, and think.

Statistics show that by 2025, 24% of student work will be AI-assisted, with 29% of Russian pupils admitting to using AI tools for homework and 23% doing so out of boredom. Teachers witness the issue daily, with examples of students excelling at home but failing in class, which revealed the extent of AI assistance. The Russian language Unified State Exam exposed this phenomenon, as students who relied on AI failed to demonstrate genuine literary ability.

Experts warn of severe consequences, including reduced mental effort, decline in face-to-face interaction, and a potential collapse in motivation. AI can produce work that appears thoughtful and even personal, but in reality, lacks the human elements found in authentic writing. IT pioneer Natalya Kaspersky has expressed concern about raising a generation of "complete idiots."

Instead of banning AI from the classroom, the solution lies in teaching children how to use it responsibly. AI can support teachers by preparing tests, presentations, and analyzing written work, reducing routine workload. However, the teacher's judgment remains essential, and AI should not replace the fundamental skills of reading, writing, arguing, and expressing oneself.

The key to mitigating the risks lies in fostering human connections and real conversations. While AI can provide additional support, it cannot replicate the emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and genuine interaction that only humans can offer. Teachers and parents must prioritize developing these essential skills in children before introducing AI as an additional layer of intellect. By doing so, we can ensure that AI enhances, rather than diminishes, our children's cognitive development.