There are tons of homework helpers available online that are using Open AI’s technology, allowing students to use artificial intelligence to complete assignments with just a few button clicks. It is estimated that approximately half of high school students use artificial intelligence (AI) in their studies and homework. The new access to this technology raises many questions about the education of youth. Today’s blog will explore the reasons teens are using AI, the pros and cons to a student’s education, how parents can tell, and what parents can do if they are concerned.

Why Students Are Using AI Homework Helpers

Students are using AI to help with their homework for a wide range of reasons, including:

• ease of use (easier for a student to input their assignment questions into AI, rather than do the reading/math to find the answers themselves)
• student laziness (the quicker teens finish their assignments, the quicker they can do other things such as scroll social media, play video games, or interact with friends)
• short attention plans (technology has created highly distractable teenagers, so AI is an easy alternative to concentrating on assignments that require time, focus, reading or deep thought)
• academic pressure (teens feel an immense pressure to succeed so getting the right answer is far more important to them than learning the material)
• anxiety (some students worry their own abilities are not enough to achieve a good grade)
• instant feedback (it can be helpful for a student who is unsure of their comprehension of the material to check for accuracy and determine their strengths and weaknesses)

Pros and Cons of Using AI Homework Helpers

Like any tool, there are pros and cons to students using AI when trying to complete assignments.

On the positive side, using AI can…

• Help a student who is stuck on a particularly difficult topic. Perhaps a student can’t solve a particular set of math problems and seeing the answer helps them figure out what they are doing wrong. If a student is having trouble finding research sources for a particular essay, AI can point them in the right direction.
• Provide personalized learning. AI can analyze individual student data to provide customized learning paths and support, catering to different learning styles and paces.
• Offer immediate feedback, allowing students to identify and correct mistakes.
• Assist students with disabilities with accessibility tools.

On the negative side, using AI can…

• Decrease knowledge retention. If a student has AI complete their assignment for them, they will be less likely to retain the information from a lesson. When students craft their own responses, they are more likely to remember big concepts and ideas.
• Reduce critical thinking. Copying and pasting from AI does not allow students to evaluate the data, consider what they learned and make connections to larger concepts.
• Impact brain development. Teens’ brains are rapidly developing, and critical thinking is a major source of brain stimulation, which is essential to establishing and maintaining vital connections between your brain cells. We don’t really have data yet that shows the impact of so much technology on the developing adolescent brain.
• Decrease communication skills. Communication skills are vital to success in any work environment, and employers often complain about the quality of these skills in new graduates. Many school assignments require students to express knowledge in their own way, but using AI eliminates that step. Students might not develop the ability to write and articulate their own thoughts.
• Reduce integrity. It’s a slippery slope from using AI for the occasional assist to using it to cheat. AI makes cheating so much easier to do, which can erode a student’s integrity and sense of honor.

How to Tell If Your Child Is Using AI for Homework

There are signs parents can look for to try to determine when their child is using AI to help with their homework:

• Sudden improvement in ability: If your child’s homework suddenly seems above their previously demonstrated ability.
• Uncharacteristic writing: If your child’s work uses words or phrases that seem too advanced or not something they would typically use, demonstrates perfect grammar, or if their writing tone sounds unfamiliar, repetitive, or robotic.
• Unusually fast completion time: If your child finishes assignments faster than usual without showing the normal drafting process.
• Inclusion of extra information: If your child’s work is longer than necessary or includes information that was not needed for the question.
• Lack of personal touch: If your child’s assignment doesn’t include any examples.

What Parents Can Do If Their Teen is Using AI Excessively

In reality, it is extremely difficult to prevent teens from using AI to do their homework. Limiting screen time doesn’t work because students almost always need a computer or some other screen to complete their work. Additionally, most parents don’t have the time to monitor all of their child’s work. That said, there are some ways to reduce the amount of AI they use:

• Have an open conversation. Talk to your teen about the pros and cons of using AI for school assignments that are listed above in this blog. Be honest and calm during this discussion and listen to their opinions without judgment.
• Discuss the importance of integrity. Talk to your teen about the importance of honesty and how AI can easily be used to cheat.
• Explain flaws of AI. Be sure your teen knows that AI is not perfect and does make mistakes. They should always fact-check any answers from AI. Additionally, teens should know the consequences of cheating and that teachers are using AI content detectors to catch cheating.
• Block specific websites. You can install plugins on your child’s computer that can block Chat GPT and other AI-enabled homework tools.
• Use an AI Detector. There are several AI content detectors available for free online that are designed to detect the presence of generative AI text. You can paste a student’s writing into a field and run a scan which reports the likelihood of the assignment being generated by AI.
• Encourage other sources of homework help. Teach your student how to use YouTube, such as the CrashCourse channel, to get help with their homework without using AI.
• Teach positive ways to use AI. Students can use AI to prepare them for tests. For example, ChatGPT can create flashcards to help memorize definitions or become an interactive tutor to quiz them on material.
• Take an interest in their classes. Asking your teen what they are learning at school allows them to explain concepts in their own words and helps you to gauge how much knowledge they are retaining.

Final Thoughts…

AI is not inherently good or bad on its own. Just like any other powerful tool, people can use it for good or bad purposes. Talking to your teen about AI is a great way to learn about their perspective as well as offer important information to them about your own values, concerns, and perspectives.