This article is part of the UPSC Daily Editorial Analysis, covering The Hindu editorial – " Is Artificial Intelligence affecting critical thinking skills?" published on “The Hindu” - by the best UPSC coaching in Kolkata.
Syllabus: UPSC GS Paper 2 (Governance, Welfare Schemes, Issues Related to Education and Policy Interventions). GS Paper 3 (Science & Technology, Issues Related to AI and its Ethical & Societal Impact).
AI is reshaping education through personalized learning, tutoring and automated grading. While 61% of Indian educators use AI, concerns remain about critical thinking and over-reliance. Experts stress context-driven use, ethical guidelines and balanced regulation. As AI becomes essential in education, responsible integration is key to maximizing benefits while minimizing risks.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are becoming increasingly prevalent in classrooms worldwide.
AI development began in 1956 when John McCarthy coined the term at a Dartmouth workshop. Early progress slowed, but the 1990s saw a revival with machine learning and neural networks. The launch of ChatGPT in 2022 was a breakthrough, showcasing AI’s potential in language processing. Today, AI is transforming healthcare, finance, manufacturing and education.
A study by TeamLease EdTech revealed that over 61% of educators in India use AI tools. The British universities have been urged to reassess their assessment methods due to the widespread adoption of generative AI (GenAI) among students.
In schools, Artificial Intelligence powers personalized learning, intelligent tutoring and automated grading. AI helps teachers manage workloads and offers data-driven insights to improve learning. As AI advances, its role in shaping the future grows.
Does AI Usage Affect Critical Thinking Skills?A major concern is that AI may encourage students to accept information at face value rather than critically analyzing it. This raises the question of whether AI integration in education enhances or hampers cognitive skills.
A new study highlights that there are concerns over the impact of AI tools on students' critical thinking abilities. The study was conducted in UK with 650 participants aged 17 and above. The study found that extensive reliance on AI can affect memory and problem-solving skills. This phenomenon is known as cognitive offloading. This correlates with lower critical thinking skills.
Lead author Michael Gerlich of SBS Swiss Business School emphasized the need for educational interventions to promote critical engagement with AI. Schools and universities may need to prioritize cognitive skill development to counterbalance over-reliance on AI.
With AI technology advancing rapidly, ensuring students retain essential cognitive abilities remains a critical challenge for educators and policymakers.
Experts argue that AI should be permitted in classrooms but in a context-driven manner. The extent of its usage should depend on the nature of the subject. While AI can be beneficial in coding and technical courses, its role in subjects focused on cognitive development should be limited.
Since there are no government regulations yet, educational institutions and instructors must establish clear policies to ensure AI is used ethically and responsibly.
AI is gradually becoming a core component of educational infrastructure. Institutions must integrate AI in a secure and structured manner to avoid potential data privacy risks.
Reports like the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlight the rising importance of AI-related skills, adaptability and analytical thinking, while traditional skills such as programming are losing prominence.
The rapid advancement of AI has sparked debates over regulation. Some countries prioritize innovation over regulation but experts say that simultaneous discussions on AI governance is crucial. The European Union has made progress in AI regulation. But India is in the early stages of policy discussions.
As government regulations take time, universities should initiate discussions among faculty and students to create responsible AI usage guidelines tailored to their needs.
While concerns about over-reliance on AI exist, experts believe it depends on the skills educators aim to impart. Academic institutions must strike a balance between fostering critical thinking and preparing students for employment.
There is a growing tendency among students—and even faculty—to overuse AI without critically evaluating its responses. Responsible AI education must emphasize understanding its limitations to prevent blind dependence.
AI is going to stay with us and its role in education will only expand. However, responsible and ethical integration, coupled with institutional and governmental regulations, is essential to maximize its benefits while minimizing risks.
|
PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Discuss the impact of AI in education highlighting its impact on critical thinking. How can responsible AI integration balance innovation and cognition? (250 words) |
1. How is AI transforming education?
AI enables personalized learning, automated grading and intelligent tutoring, helping educators improve efficiency and student engagement.
2. What are the concerns regarding AI in education?
Key concerns include over-reliance, declining critical thinking, bias in AI-generated content and data privacy risks.
3. Does AI affect students' critical thinking skills?
Yes, excessive dependence on AI can lead to cognitive offloading, reducing students’ ability to analyze and evaluate information critically.
4. Should AI be allowed in classrooms?
AI should be context-driven, benefiting technical subjects while ensuring cognitive development in analytical fields.
5. What role does AI play in future job skills?
AI-driven skills like adaptability, problem-solving and analytical thinking are becoming crucial, while traditional programming skills are losing prominence.
6. How can AI be integrated responsibly in education?
AI needs ethical guidelines, balanced regulation and structured institutional policies to maximize benefits while minimizing risks.
7. Is India regulating AI in education?
India is still in early policy discussions. But the EU has made progress in AI regulation to ensure responsible use.
© 2025 iasgyan. All right reserved