The risks of AI in schools outweigh the benefits : NPR

The risks of AI in schools outweigh the benefits : NPR

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5674741/ai-schools-education

Publish Date: 2026-01-14 07:00:00

Source Domain: www.npr.org

Here are the key points from the article, presented as an unordered list:

– The Brookings Institution’s Center for Universal Education conducted a study indicating that the risks of using generative AI in children’s education currently outweigh the benefits, citing foundational developmental harm.
– The study involved diverse stakeholders and used a “premortem” approach to consider AI’s classroom potential before its long-term consequences are fully understood.
– Among AI’s pros, the report recognizes its potential to support language acquisition, and assist in writing by sparking creativity and aiding organization, though it emphasizes its value as a supplementary tool.
– A major con noted is AI’s potential to hinder cognitive development by creating a dependency that could impair critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
– The study highlights AI as a double-edged sword concerning equity, noting it could reach underserved areas but might also exacerbate educational inequity due to differing levels of AI access and accuracy.
– Another con pointed out is AI’s threat to social and emotional development for kids due to its sycophantic nature which can undermine empathy and emotional resilience.
– The report makes several recommendations to harness AI’s potential while mitigating its risks, including fostering engaged, curious learning environments, designing less sycophantic AI, and fostering comprehensive AI literacy among educators and students.
– It calls for equitable use across schools and strong regulatory frameworks to protect students’ cognitive and emotional well-being.