Student use of artificial intelligence for homework rose sharply in 2025, while concerns about its impact on critical-thinking skills grew.
A RAND Corporation study found that 62% of middle school, high school, and college students used AI for schoolwork by December 2025, up from 48% in May. The rise came mostly from younger students, as college use remained unchanged.
Students see AI as a tool, not a cheat
Most students do not view common AI uses as dishonest. Nearly 80% said using AI to understand an assignment was acceptable, and 72% felt the same about brainstorming ideas. Only 45% believed getting direct answers crossed an ethical line.
Heather Schwartz, vice president of RAND’s Education, Employment and Infrastructure division, noted that students adopt AI as a learning aid but remain unsure about its long-term effects. They rely on it for answers, explanations, and writing help, yet more now think it weakens their ability to think independently.
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By December, 67% of students said AI harmed critical-thinking skills, an increase from 54% earlier in the year. Non-users expressed greater concern, with 78% believing it had a negative impact compared with 60% of users.
Schools struggle with inconsistent rules
Only about one-third of students reported that their school had a clear, uniform policy on AI. Many, particularly in college, said rules differed by instructor. Older students were more likely to believe teachers checked homework for AI use and to fear false cheating accusations.
Chatbots were the most widely used tool, with 60% of students reporting use. ChatGPT led at 53%, while Google Gemini’s use more than doubled to 28%. Writing assistants like Grammarly were used by 21%, and general homework platforms like Chegg by 15%.
The most common uses included getting clearer assignment explanations (38%), brainstorming ideas (35%), looking up facts (33%), and drafting or revising writing (33%). Older students turned to AI for these tasks more often, except for fact-checking, which younger students did at higher rates.
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Female students used AI at the same rate as male students but voiced stronger concerns. Seventy-five percent of female students said AI harmed critical thinking, compared with 59% of male students. They also worried more about cheating.
The survey, funded by the Gates Foundation, included responses from over 1,000 students ages 12 to 29 enrolled in school during the 2025–26 academic year. It formed part of RAND’s American Youth Panel, a nationally representative sample.
Without clear guidelines, students may rely on AI in ways that replace thinking instead of supporting it. The tools are already widely available, and classrooms must decide whether to guide their use toward meaningful learning or allow them to become shortcuts.
Schwartz stated that students already use these tools. Schools must help them apply AI in ways that strengthen, not weaken, their ability to think deeply.
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