[EDITORIAL] Students are misusing AI in schools, and it is affecting learning

Tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini can support learning, but many students rely on them as shortcuts instead of using them responsibly.

By Wildcat Chronicle Staff • April 20, 2026

Photo by Ja’Nyah Villa

A student scrolls through content on a smartphone, reflecting how digital tools and platforms—including AI—are increasingly shaping how students access information and complete schoolwork.

ChatGPT. Claude. Gemini. As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly common in classrooms, students and educators are debating whether these platforms support learning – or replace it. AI is doing more harm than good in schools right now because students are misusing it. While some argue that AI can be a powerful academic tool, others worry it may be doing more harm than good.

AI has quickly come to dominate our society in the years shortly after COVID (2022–2023) to the present day. First, it started as a recreational tool, but it has quickly diffused into other areas, a prominent example being schools. Yet, most of this usage of AI is negative.

When students use AI for schoolwork, they usually do not use it as a booster to continue on their own. They just ask ChatGPT for answers and copy that word for word, and they really learn nothing. For example, a student might use AI to generate an entire response or solve a problem without understanding how to do it themselves.

“When kids use generative AI… they are not thinking for themselves,” Rebecca Winthrop, one of the report’s authors and a senior fellow at Brookings, said to NPR.

Others make the argument that there are things AI can help students with, and this is true. If students use AI correctly, there would certainly be no issue.

In a survey conducted in mid-April via the Wildcat Chronicle’s Instagram, more than 72% of respondents said they felt negatively about artificial intelligence. (Photo by Micaela Jaramillo)

“AI should support learning, not replace the thinking and effort students need,” Michael Healey of Discovery Education said.

While AI can be used correctly, it is more often than not used incorrectly. Most kids won’t do something on their own when they have AI at their fingertips.

“It’s easy; you don’t need to use your brain,” a student said to researchers at Brookings.

Kids can just lay back and do nothing. This can really harm their learning process. If we as a society do nothing, our future generations will grow up without the correct education that everybody else before them received. Students need to start using AI as a tool to support their learning, not as a shortcut to avoid doing the work. This change can still happen; it’s not too late. Now is better than later.

About the Contributors

Ja’Nyah Villa, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Ja’Nyah Villa is a senior in her fourth year of writing for the Chronicle! She started her journalism career during her freshman year, and her experience built up her credentials. She is one of five co-hosts for the Chronicle’s video news segment “What’s the word Wego?” Additionally, she is the co-editor-in-chief for the paper. Ja’Nyah hopes to pursue a career in book publishing or journalism. She is very driven and dedicated to her schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Outside of Journalism, Ja’Nyah is an active member of Wego Drama and serves on the leadership team as Senior Representative. There, she spends most of her time on stage and has even been part of a state-qualifying play. Aside from theater, Ja’Nyah is passionate about her music classes. She is a 3-year member of Wego’s Honors Acappella Chamber Choir, where she dedicates hours of her time to practice and go to gigs; She is also a member of the concert choir. Ja’Nyah’s hobbies include reading and listening to music. So far, she has read 8 books in 2025, and her favorite book is “Thunderhead,” by Neal Shusterman. She also enjoys listening to music (while she reads and otherwise)! Her top 5 artists on Spotify are Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, BoyWithUke, Conan Gray, and Lizzy McAlpine. Her favorite genres are pop, punk, rock, and musical theater!

Micaela Jaramillo, Reporter

In her first year of high school, Micaela does quite a lot. She will always be listening to something whether it be Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Nirvana, Sade, Oasis, or Blur she always has her headphones in. If she is not listening to her music, she is playing it on her guitar. Around Micaela, you should be careful what you listen to or she might get a tad bit angry. Micaela has 10 vinyls and is working her way to 50 slowly but surely. When picking out her electives, her mom “suggested” journalism and here she is.

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