College students, professors are making their own AI rules. They don't always agree

"If all we needed was the weights moved, then that would be great. But we need the muscles developed, and students going through the process of writing are developing those muscles. Cryer says AI has also added a new type of labor for professors like him: trying to determine whether a student's work is their own."

"According to a poll by Inside Higher Ed and the Generation Lab conducted last July, about 85% of undergraduates were using AI for coursework, including to brainstorm ideas, outline papers and study for exams. Roughly 19% of students also reported using AI to write full essays. More than half of students who used AI for coursework had mixed feelings about it."

"Tarana says she eventually stopped using AI because it made her feel like 'I was outsourcing my thinking,' highlighting how students themselves recognize the tension between convenience and authentic intellectual engagement when using generative AI tools for academic work."

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT have become prevalent in higher education, with approximately 85% of undergraduates using AI for coursework tasks ranging from brainstorming to writing full essays. Educators like Dan Cryer argue that AI-assisted writing undermines the learning process, comparing it to using a forklift at the gym—the task gets done but students miss crucial skill development. The technology has created dual burdens: professors must now verify student authenticity while institutions provide AI access, and students struggle to identify responsible versus irresponsible usage. Many students report mixed feelings, acknowledging that while AI helps sometimes, it can diminish critical thinking. Some students, like recent graduate Aysa Tarana, have abandoned AI use after recognizing it outsourced their thinking rather than supporting genuine learning.

Read at www.npr.org