AI Helps Homework but Harms Exams, Large Chinese Study Finds

A large Chinese study of ~27,000 students ages 12–18 finds that about 80% used AI tools, with AI homework completion rising by 18% and time per assignment dropping from 64 to 45 minutes (a 30% faster pace). However, monthly exam scores for AI users were 20% lower than non-users, suggesting AI can be a learning crutch rather than a true aid. Anecdotes from Brown University and MIT align with concerns that AI-assisted work may reduce engagement and cognitive activity, while broader research links AI use to poorer critical thinking and memory. Learning losses were greatest in social sciences, followed by STEM and languages, and there are worries about AI-driven grade inflation in humanities and engineering. A cautionary note on how AI may shift performance patterns without necessarily improving understanding.