Ready-Made AI Answers Leave Students Asking Fewer Questions In Bhopal

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Educators and psychiatrists in the city warn that young students are losing their natural curiosity, creativity, analytical and social skills due to excessive reliance on AI for knowledge and answers. The case of an IIT Bombay student who committed suicide after being caught uploading his question paper on ChatGPT in an exam hall serves as a stark example, according to experts.

Aarti Sinha, Central India's first female gong healer, explained that a worried Class 7 parent sought her help after their daughter refused to attend school, arguing that AI could answer all her questions, rendering teachers unnecessary. Sinha struggled to convince the girl that school education is more than just fact acquisition.

Educationist Rajesh Sharma noted that while schools can ban mobiles during classes, they cannot prevent the use of AI for homework and assignments. He emphasized that uncontrolled use of AI in students' projects will severely impact their learning. Psychiatrist Ruma Bhattacharya stated that the dependence of children and teenagers on AI will eventually stifle their curiosity, creativity, and analytical skills.

Children are naturally curious, but AI's provision of ready-made answers dampens their critical thinking abilities. Furthermore, Bhattacharya highlighted that prolonged use of AI may weaken students' memory as they no longer need to actively search for answers. Aparna, a teacher at the Government Subhash Excellence Higher Secondary School, reported that students who struggle to comprehend classroom lessons often resort to using AI to find answers at home.

This reliance on AI affects students' social and communication skills, as well as their relationship with teachers.