Risks and rewards: ChatGPT in Education
ChatGPT has become the elephant in every classroom since it burst into the mainstream in late 2022, revolutionising the way students approach and conduct learning while also raising alarm bells among educators around the world. As of 2025, 86% of students use some form of AI in their studies, while 54% of people use ChatGPT frequently. Most students have used ChatGPT as a shortcut to complete difficult tasks such as writing essays or research. Even though ChatGPT is capable of writing a great essay, it is important to aim to learn and use ChatGPT in a manner which supports your learning instead of just getting it to do the learning for you.
Students can use ChatGPT to aid them in a variety of ways, from asking ChatGPT to explain concepts in layman's terms to asking ChatGPT to write their essays. Around half of students use ChatGPT for completing course assignments and writing essays, while nearly a third of students have used it to cheat in an exam before. Students also use ChatGPT to conduct research, solve mathematical problems, and create timetables for revision. ChatGPT's immense processing ability also can be a useful revision guide, creating practice questions or flashcards, summarising long texts and evaluating essays to provide feedback.
However, educators are understandably worried about how this technology impacts critical thinking and memory retention. When students lean on ChatGPT to complete assignments or summarise content, they miss the opportunity to actively engage with the material. When students bypass the process of researching, writing, and problem-solving, they miss out on the development of critical thinking skills that are essential for both academic success and real-world decision-making. Another worry is the potential for diminished creativity. Pre-generated responses, although efficient, lack the depth of personal insight and creative thought that students can bring to their work through their own experiences and perspectives. Both of these concerns are rooted in the risk that the proliferation of AI use amongst students will impact their ability to think independently.
Perhaps the most troubling concern surrounding the proliferation of AI in education is equitable access. Not all students have the same resources to utilise these technologies, which could widen the already significant education gap. A recent discussion paper by the Centre for Progressive Policy highlights that although AI has the potential to democratise education, it could also just as easily exacerbate inequalities. Therefore, its crucial to ensure that all students have access to the same tools, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
So, how can students and schools harness the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks? To promote independent thinking and creativity, it’s essential to strike a balance. Students should view AI as a supplementary tool rather than a crutch. Instead of relying on ChatGPT to write entire essays or solve problems, they can use it to brainstorm ideas, refine thesis statements, or provide constructive feedback on their drafts. AI can act as an interactive tutor, explaining challenging concepts in different ways. To avoid over-reliance, students should engage actively with their learning materials, test their understanding before seeking AI help, and critically evaluate AI-generated responses instead of taking them at face value.
Schools can support this approach by establishing clear guidelines for AI usage, emphasising ethical considerations, and encouraging students to see AI as a collaborator rather than a replacement for genuine intellectual effort. On a larger scale, integrating AI into education should focus on promoting equal access and enhancing learning opportunities for all students. AI has the potential to democratise education through personalised tutoring, adaptive learning pathways, and instant access to resources that may be otherwise unavailable to disadvantaged students.