Study warns using ChatGPT bad for developing critical thinking skills
ChatGPT is being used more and more by students, but that’s causing concern among many teachers. A new study from the prestigious MIT shows that AI tools like ChatGPT can undermine students’ critical thinking. Even experienced educators are noticing their students writing less original and more superficial work.
Jocelyn Leitzinger, a professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago, has noticed a striking trend in her classes: students who use ChatGPT often submit soulless texts. In particular, essays about personal experiences or ethical issues surrounding AI, she says, lack originality and depth.
This observation is now confirmed by scientific research. Neuroscientist Nataliya Kosmyna (MIT) and her team studied how ChatGPT affects the learning process. Their study shows that students who use AI for writing assignments score lower on critical assessment criteria than students who worked without assistance.
The researchers went a step further and also examined the students’ brain activity. What did they find? Students who relied on ChatGPT showed less neural connectivity in areas linked to deep thinking and problem-solving.
Something else stood out when reviewing the essays: teachers described the texts from the AI group as “soulless”. According to them, the essays lacked creativity, insight, and personality.
Still, lead author Kosmyna warns against jumping to conclusions. “Our research shows certain risks, but we need more and broader studies to understand the full picture,” she says.
Ashley Juavinett, a neuroscientist at the University of California, also emphasizes that the study should be interpreted with caution. The sample size was limited, and she believes it’s too early to say that AI tools like ChatGPT are making people less intelligent.
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