TECHNOLOGY · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Global Study Finds AI Use Linked to Lower Academic Performance
WHY IT MATTERS
The results of this study highlight the need for educators to develop strategies that promote critical thinking and AI literacy among students, rather than simply relying on AI tools for academic support.
What happened
A recent OECD educational report reveals that students who rely on AI for studying tend to perform worse academically compared to their peers who don't use AI. However, the study also found that certain types of AI use, particularly when students are taught to critically evaluate AI tools, can lead to slight improvements in performance.
This finding is based on data collected in 2025 from 15-year-old students participating in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which tests science, math, and reading skills.
The study marks the first time AI use has been extensively studied in the context of mainstream education.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Students who use AI generally score worse at school
The Verge · Dominic Preston · Discovery only; Vox Media copyright terms apply
CORRECTIONS & UPDATES
- Revision 1 · Initial ingestion · Sep 9, 2026, 12:15 PM
- Revision 2 · Source update detected · Sep 9, 2026, 12:15 PM
- Revision 3 · Source update detected · Sep 9, 2026, 12:15 PM