In lecture halls, libraries, and late night study sessions, one tool has become nearly as common as notebooks and laptops: ChatGPT. From summarizing readings to drafting full essays, students are increasingly turning to the AI-powered chatbot for academic support. But as its popularity grows, so do concerns about what it might be taking away namely, students’ critical thinking skills.

“It Did the Job But I Didn’t Learn Anything”

Samantha, a third-year commerce student, recalls using ChatGPT to help her finish a reflective essay due in less than two hours. “I was behind on work and tired,” she said. “I asked it to write a paragraph about business ethics. It sounded perfect, so I pasted it straight in.”

She submitted the paper, received a decent grade, but now admits: “If someone asked me to explain what I wrote, I probably couldn’t have. It did the job, but I didn’t really learn anything.”

Stories like Samantha’s are becoming more common and they’re raising red flags among educators.

Fast Answers, Slow Thinking?

At the heart of the issue is the growing reliance on AI to do the intellectual heavy lifting. Teachers and academic staff report seeing more formulaic assignments, fewer analytical insights, and a decline in student engagement during discussions.

“Students who use AI for outlines and ideas might start out with good intentions,” said Dr. Annika Rao, a senior lecturer in education. “But the temptation to let it take over completely is very real. That short-circuits the critical thinking process.”

She describes one assignment where students were asked to debate whether surveillance improves safety or compromises privacy. “Several essays were grammatically perfect but felt generic and lacked any real depth. When questioned, a few students admitted ChatGPT had ‘helped a lot.’ Too much, in some cases.”

What Is Being Lost?

Critical thinking isn’t about knowing the right answer it’s about understanding why it’s right (or wrong). It’s the ability to ask good questions, challenge assumptions, connect ideas, and build a reasoned argument.

When students rely on AI-generated responses, they may miss out on:

• Making decisions amid ambiguity
  AI often provides polished responses without showing the steps it took. Students don’t experience the discomfort and growth that comes from wrestling with uncertain answers.
• Learning from mistakes
  Errors are part of learning. But with ChatGPT offering near-perfect outputs, students may avoid the trial-and-error process that deepens understanding.
• Ownership of ideas
  There’s a subtle but powerful shift when students stop feeling like authors of their own work. This affects confidence, creativity, and academic integrity.

When It Helps and When It Hurts

Not all uses of ChatGPT are problematic. Some students use it to clarify concepts, brainstorm essay structures, or reword sentences to improve clarity. In these cases, it can function like a tutor or writing assistant.

For example, Ravi, a medical student, uses the chatbot to quiz himself on anatomy. “I don’t copy answers,” he says. “I use it to test my recall and then cross-check with textbooks. It’s like having an instant question bank.”

Educators agree that this kind of active use where the student remains in control can complement learning. The trouble begins when the AI moves from assistant to author.

Rethinking Assessments

In response, some universities are adjusting how they evaluate students. Traditional take-home essays are being replaced with in-class writing tasks, oral exams, and presentations. These methods make it harder to outsource thinking and easier to spot authentic understanding.

Others are encouraging “process-based” assignments. Instead of grading only the final essay, instructors ask for drafts, annotated bibliographies, or reflective journals showing how the student arrived at their conclusions.

Building AI Literacy

Rather than banning tools like ChatGPT, educators are increasingly advocating for responsible use. That means teaching students how to evaluate, question, and even challenge the information AI provides.

“Students need to learn how to work with AI not against it, but not under it either,” said Dr. Rao. “We must teach them to be critical users, not passive consumers.”

This might involve assignments that require students to compare AI responses with human-written sources, or ask students to critique a ChatGPT-generated argument.

The Bottom Line

ChatGPT is not going away. Its speed, fluency, and accessibility make it an appealing tool in the academic world. But if left unchecked, it could quietly weaken the very skills that education aims to build.

The solution isn’t to fear AI but to frame its use within a deeper culture of thoughtfulness and integrity. In a world of instant answers, the real value lies in learning how to think, not just what to write.