A new study analyzing 30 months of data from over 26,000 secondary school students in central China shows that AI users experienced significant learning losses. Students who used AI completed homework 18 percent faster and in 45 minutes instead of 64, but their exam scores dropped by 20 percent. The full impact on entrance exams, such as the Zhongkao and Gaokao, only became apparent after two years, with scores falling by 18 to 24 percent. The study, published by thedecoder, highlights the long-term consequences of AI use in education.
The research, which tracked students who adopted AI at different times, found that the negative effects on regular exams appeared within six months, while the full impact on high-stakes exams took about two years to surface. The study attributes this delay to the time it takes for the learning gap to accumulate. Students who used AI for more than five hours per week saw a 30 percent decline in exam scores, while those using it for up to one hour per week experienced a 5 percent loss. The findings suggest that AI use can replace independent thinking, leading to reduced learning outcomes.
The study also notes that learning losses were most pronounced in social science subjects like politics and geography, with an average decline of 27 percent, compared to 22 percent in STEM fields. Younger students and boys were disproportionately affected, with boys experiencing a 21.6 percent decline versus 18.4 percent for girls. The researchers argue that the long-term nature of these losses explains why the reaction from educators and students has been limited. Teachers often overlook the 20 percent grade drop in individual subjects, and students frequently mistake the ease of completing homework for effective learning.
Source: thedecoder
