{
  "id": 9288084,
  "title": "AI Is Hurting Students’ Ability to Think, Educators Say: ‘It’s the Illusion of Learning’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/ai-is-hurting-students-ability-to-think-educators-say-its-the",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-23T06:31:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
    "slug": "the-japan-news-by-the-yomiuri-shimbun",
    "url": "https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/news-services/washingtonpost/20260923-350176/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Artificial intelligence has been around for four years, but educators now fear it is damaging students' ability to think and learn independently. The technology evolves too quickly for definitive long-term data on its impact. However, early evidence suggests that when used without proper safeguards, large language models can hinder students' skill development. Some faculty members report seeing concerning signs in the classroom, such as students submitting well-written essays but struggling to explain their ideas, students having difficulty explaining their code, and students facing challenges with basic math skills. MIT Professor Eric Klopfer, co-chair of a committee studying AI in teaching, learning, and research training, observed that students often turn in polished homework, yet their exam performance suffers. Klopfer described this as an \"illusion of learning,\" where students may feel like they are understanding the material, but when faced with applying that knowledge without AI assistance, they struggle. Fears surrounding AI have been escalating recently, with tech leaders calling for a pact to slow its development and President Donald Trump advocating for faster progress. The situation presents a significant turning point for higher education, with MIT's president calling for both immediate and long-term changes. Studies indicate that overreliance on chatbots can lead to diminished critical thinking, weakened memory, eroded confidence, and impaired mastery. A December survey by the Rand think tank found that a majority of students believe that using AI for schoolwork will harm their critical thinking skills. At Brown University, a committee studying generative AI found that most students have utilized LLMs in their studies, and they express concern about the long-term effects on their thinking and learning. The rapid development of AI has outpaced research to understand its consequences, said Luca Cian, a professor at the University of Virginia's business school. Cian emphasized that the widespread use of AI is a powerful cognitive offloading mechanism. A 2025 study measured brain activity during essay writing, with participants using an LLM showing the weakest brain connectivity and struggling to recall their work after completion. These findings, supported by longer-term studies, highlight the need for further research into the effects of AI on learning.",
  "summary": "When ChatGPT burst onto the scene four years ago, some professors warned that students might use artificial intelligence to cheat. Now many educators’ fears are far more profound: AI, it seems, is hurting their students’ ability to learn and think for themselves.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}