AI is reshaping the teenage brain — and an Oxford study says it is making students faster, but shallower thinkers (www.businessinsider.com)

Oxford University Press researchers surveyed 2,000 UK students (ages 13–18) in August and found that roughly 8 in 10 teenagers now use AI tools for schoolwork and homework. Students report AI helps them “think faster” and solve problems more quickly—over 90% said AI improved at least one academic skill—but six in 10 also say it harms other abilities. A quarter feel learning has become “too easy,” about 10% say AI has reduced creativity and critical thinking, and some students confess growing dependence. Teachers share concerns: one in three pupils say their teachers lack confidence using AI, and 51% want clearer school guidance. The authors—including educational neuroscientist Erika Galea and teacher Olga Sayer—coin the term “synthetic cognition” to describe a new “AI-native” mode of thinking that favors speed and fluency over pause, reflection and independent inquiry. The study’s main implication for AI/ML and education communities is that classroom integration of models like ChatGPT can reshape cognitive habits, not just workflows. Researchers call for systematic AI literacy, metacognitive training, assessment redesign and stronger teacher support so students retain depth of thought while benefiting from AI’s efficiency—highlighting that scaling model use in education demands pedagogical and policy safeguards, not merely technical deployment.