The real risk of artificial intelligence is dependency

https://www.chinadailyasia.com/article/636372

Publish Date: 2026-07-13 12:24:00

Source Domain: www.chinadailyasia.com

AI is increasingly integrated into education, work, and daily life, raising the question of how it should be utilized without diminishing essential human capabilities.
The debate about AI in teaching is crucial because universities are where students develop critical skills like careful reading, clear thinking, coherent writing, precise speaking, and sound judgment.
Concerns arise when AI is used to bypass the effort required for genuine learning, leading to dependency rather than genuine understanding.
An example from Brown University shows alarming results when AI was used to produce remarkably high exam scores, followed by a significant drop when in-person exams were reinstated.
The broader issue is that while AI can significantly improve productivity and support decision-making, indiscriminate use can lead to dependency, reduce genuine skill acquisition, displace work, concentrate power, and consume extensive resources.
The key role of educators is to ensure students develop a profound understanding of subjects, ensuring that AI augments rather than replaces learning.
To preserve the learning process, educators can implement methods such as encouraging oral presentations, using multiple-choice questions that test comprehension, and requiring handwritten answers to maintain focus and understanding.
The larger societal responsibility is to safeguard human capability, ensuring AI enhances human judgment and creativity instead of undermining them.
Ultimately, the future belongs to those who can effectively use tools like AI while maintaining and enhancing their own understanding and judgment.