Faster homework, poor exam results: What AI is doing to students’ learning

What the report says

AI is rapidly entering classrooms, but Al Jazeera reports that its effect on student learning depends heavily on how it is used. The article says several education systems are already moving to incorporate the technology, including China, which requires at least eight hours of AI instruction a year, and Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which have begun adding AI to curricula.

A key study cited in the piece tracked about 27,000 students aged 12 to 18 in China for 30 months. The researchers found that after students adopted generative AI, homework scores improved and assignments took less time, but later results in closed-book exams declined, including in high-stakes entrance tests. Al Jazeera also points to OECD research suggesting that when AI is used without structure and is not designed to teach, it can help students finish tasks without producing lasting learning gains.

The reporting further highlights how students use AI outside class. In a survey across seven European countries, the most common uses were getting information and having concepts explained, while a smaller share used it for complete answers. Fewer students used AI in ways that support independent study, such as adaptive content or personal learning plans.

The article places AI in a broader student context as well, noting that many undergraduates in a UK survey said it improved their experience through time savings and support, while views on loneliness were mixed. The overall message is that AI may speed up schoolwork, but educators still face questions about whether it strengthens understanding or simply outsources effort.