ORLANDO, Fla. — Artificial intelligence is moving so quickly that it could change one of the most familiar parts of a student’s school day: homework.
New research shows more middle and high school students are turning to AI for help with assignments. Some educators are responding by rethinking how, and where, students complete their work.
For generations, homework has meant taking the day’s lesson home and working through problems, writing essays or answering questions independently.
But with AI tools able to generate essays, answer questions and help students complete assignments in seconds, educators are questioning whether traditional homework still measures what students actually know.
A new study involving more than 26,000 students found that using AI helped students complete homework faster and earn better grades. But there was a tradeoff: Their test scores dropped by 20%.
Researchers and education experts say that could mean schools need to place more emphasis on learning that happens under teacher supervision.
That could include more classroom discussions, handwritten assignments and other work that makes it harder for students to rely on AI to do the thinking for them.
The shift is already happening in Central Florida.
Seminole County Public Schools has incorporated AI into its curriculum, teaching students how to use the technology responsibly while preparing them for a workforce where AI is likely to play an increasingly important role.
Rather than simply banning AI, educators are working to help students understand when it can be useful, and when relying on it could get in the way of learning.
As AI becomes more capable, the question for schools may no longer be whether students will use it, but how teachers can make sure technology supports learning instead of replacing it.
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