Over the last decade, the use of artificial intelligence has gained popularity as the technology has become more and more developed. AI companies have continuously collected data from their users to generate more accurate and real responses. Particularly, programs like ChatGPT have become a favored tool for students academically. Whether or not this is ethical has been a major discussion throughout schools and families worldwide. 

The controversy stems from students abusing their access to AI and cheating on homework, projects, and essays. As of 2025, around 92% of students use AI in their school work (Programs). This is a clear example of academic dishonesty, which is what is causing many teachers and parents to be upset. However, the use of AI can lead to more than an F. Having AI do your assignments for you can also count as plagiarism, which could even cause expulsion in extreme cases, like college. Moreover, it is not even guaranteed to be 100% correct and could be feeding users false information. Mr. Hipwell (S) commented that “I have noticed a decrease in critical thinking skills in the classroom; application of skills is suffering, which will negatively affect students’ future careers.” As more and more students have relied on AI to do their assignments for them, it will have a huge effect on their brains and learning capabilities.

Despite all this, there is also a positive element to using AI. If done correctly, AI can be used in moderation as a learning tool. Many students use AI to create study guides or to expand on concepts they have difficulty understanding. There are also AI-based programs like Grammarly that help edit grammar and sentence structure on essays without doing the writing for the students. Another example of this is Duolingo, which has recently increased its use of AI and is an excellent resource for students to learn new languages. Mrs. Nuñez (S) explained that “I feel that it could be used as a tool to help you learn about something or save time, but it shouldn’t be used to plagiarize or cheat.” Furthermore, AI programs are free to an extent, but still far more accessible for students who may not be able to afford tutoring.

When used appropriately, AI can be an efficient resource for all students. There is a very clear line as to when using AI is or is not cheating. Unfortunately, it is very tempting to cross that line. Therefore, it is truly up to the student whether they value their learning or grades more.