A new study commissioned by Oxford University Press (OUP) has revealed that a significant number of UK pupils are concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on their learning. The survey of 2,000 students aged 13 to 18 found that 62% believe AI has had a negative effect on their skills and development at school.
One in four pupils agreed that AI 'makes it too easy for me to find the answers without doing the work myself', while 12% said it limits their creative thinking. Despite these concerns, 80% of students reported using AI regularly for schoolwork, with only 2% saying they never use it.
Alexandra Tomescu, OUP's generative AI and machine learning product specialist, noted that young people have a 'sophisticated understanding' of the technology's pitfalls and benefits. She highlighted that 60% of students worry AI encourages copying over original work, reflecting a mature grasp of academic integrity.
The study echoes findings from other research, including an MIT study that measured brain activity during essay writing with AI, raising concerns about long-term educational implications. Nearly half of the students surveyed also feared classmates were 'secretly using AI' without teachers detecting it.
Many students expressed a desire for more teacher guidance on appropriate AI use and evaluating its reliability. Daniel Williams, an assistant headteacher at Bishop Vesey's grammar school, said the findings mirror his own observations: pupils often use AI as a shortcut rather than a learning tool.
However, not all feedback was negative. Some students reported benefits: 18% said AI helped them understand problems better, and 15% said it generated new ideas. One 15-year-old girl said it improved her maths understanding, while a 14-year-old boy claimed it made him think faster. OUP is launching an AI education hub to support teachers in addressing these issues.
