A new study has found that students who avoid using artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for academic tasks tend to perform better than those who rely on the technology.
The findings were highlighted in a new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report examining how AI technology may affect students’ learning abilities and academic performance.
AI Users Score Lower in Science Tests
The report compared science test results of students who did not use AI chatbots with those of 484 students who used the technology for academic work.
Students who stayed away from AI recorded an average score of 509, compared with 481 among chatbot users — a difference of 28 points.
According to the report, the performance gap remained consistent over a period of around 18 months. Similar patterns were observed in other learning activities, including researching unfamiliar topics and preparing summaries after studying material.
Researchers Warn Against Overdependence
Researchers said effective learning does not necessarily require students to memorize information. Instead, engaging mentally with new material and working through challenges can help strengthen learning.
They cautioned that AI should be treated as a temporary support tool rather than a substitute for students’ own thinking and learning processes. Excessive reliance on AI could potentially weaken the learning benefits that come from independently engaging with academic material.
The researchers had previously conducted similar research in 2022, when AI technology was beginning to gain widespread popularity.