This paper shows the same effect as other studies of "cheating"...
Ethan Mollick@emollick
78 views
Jun 17, 2025
~1 min read
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This paper shows the same effect as other studies of "cheating" with AI - if you use AI to do the work (as opposed to using it as a tutor), you don't learn as much.
But note: the results are specific to the essay task - not a generalized statement about LLMs making people dumb.
But note: the results are specific to the essay task - not a generalized statement about LLMs making people dumb.
Rohan Paul@rohanpaul_ai
It’s a hefty 206-page research paper, and the findings are concerning.
"LLM users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels"
This study finds LLM dependence weakens the writer’s own neural and linguistic fingerprints. 🤔🤔
Relying only on EEG, text mining, and a cross-over session, the authors show that keeping some AI-free practice time protects memory circuits and encourages richer language even when a tool is later reintroduced.
"LLM users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels"
This study finds LLM dependence weakens the writer’s own neural and linguistic fingerprints. 🤔🤔
Relying only on EEG, text mining, and a cross-over session, the authors show that keeping some AI-free practice time protects memory circuits and encourages richer language even when a tool is later reintroduced.
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The crisis caused by AI cheating is real, and students using AI to cheat are learning less (just like students copying from the internet learned less👇).
But AI can also act as an effective tutor. It is very much dependent on how we use the technology
But AI can also act as an effective tutor. It is very much dependent on how we use the technology
Ethan Mollick@emollick
The internet ruined homework which hurt test scores.
When students did their homework in 2008, it improved test grades for 86% of them, but only helped 45% in 2017. Why? A majority of students are now copying internet answers. The benefit of homework requires doing it yourself!
When students did their homework in 2008, it improved test grades for 86% of them, but only helped 45% in 2017. Why? A majority of students are now copying internet answers. The benefit of homework requires doing it yourself!
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I think the paper (and the X reaction to it) does not do enough to make it clear that this is about a learning task, not about a general decay of the brain from using LLMs.
It is thus going to be another piece of confused rumor in the already rumor-filled world of AI & education
It is thus going to be another piece of confused rumor in the already rumor-filled world of AI & education