AI risks in schools currently outweigh benefits

According to the Brookings Institution’s Center for Universal Education, the study draws on focus groups and interviews with K–12 students, parents, teachers, and technology experts across 50 countries. It also includes a review of hundreds of academic research articles examining AI’s impact on education.

Researchers found that while generative AI offers potential advantages, its current use in classrooms can weaken essential learning skills and disrupt healthy cognitive and social development. 

Instead of analyzing long-term outcomes, the report aims to anticipate potential failures and consequences before they become irreversible.

The study outlines both the potential benefits and significant risks of AI in education and offers recommendations for teachers, parents, school leaders, and policymakers. 

Pro: AI supports reading and writing skills
Teachers surveyed in the report say AI can be a useful tool for language learning, particularly for students acquiring a second language. AI can adapt reading materials to match a student’s skill level and provide a private learning environment for those who struggle in large classrooms.

Educators also report that AI can support writing development when used as a supplement rather than a replacement for student effort. Teachers say AI can help spark creativity, reduce writer’s block, and assist with organization, coherence, and grammar during drafting, as well as with editing and revision. The report emphasizes that AI is most effective when it supports—not replaces—the guidance of human teachers.

Con: AI threatens students’ cognitive development
The Brookings report identifies risks to children’s cognitive development as the most serious concern associated with AI in schools. Researchers warn that heavy reliance on AI can weaken students’ ability to think critically, learn new skills, and solve problems independently.

The report describes a potential “doom loop,” in which students increasingly offload thinking to AI tools, leading to cognitive decline similar to patterns seen in aging brains. Rebecca Winthrop, a senior fellow at Brookings and co-author of the study, cautions that when AI provides answers directly, students miss opportunities to evaluate evidence, distinguish fact from fiction, build strong arguments, and engage with diverse perspectives.

Pro: AI can reduce teachers’ workload
The report finds that AI can help teachers by automating routine tasks such as generating parent emails, translating materials, and creating worksheets, quizzes, rubrics, and lesson plans. Citing multiple studies, including research from the U.S., the report notes that teachers who use AI save an average of nearly six hours per week—roughly six weeks over a full school year.

Con: AI may improve or worsen educational equity
While AI has the potential to expand access to education, the report notes it could also deepen existing inequalities. Researchers point to Afghanistan as an example of AI’s promise, where programs have digitized curricula and delivered lessons in multiple languages via WhatsApp to girls barred from formal schooling.

Recommendations
The Brookings report offers a wide range of recommendations to help parents, teachers, policymakers, and technology companies reduce AI risks while preserving its benefits:

• Schools should move away from a strong focus on grades and task completion, and instead encourage curiosity and a love of learning. Engaged students are less likely to rely on AI to complete their work.
• AI tools designed for children should challenge students more. Rather than simply agreeing with users, AI should ask questions, push back on ideas, and encourage critical thinking.
• Strong AI literacy is essential. Teachers and students need to understand how AI works and how to use it responsibly. Some countries, such as China and Estonia, already have national guidelines for AI education.

Finally, the authors stress that governments must regulate AI use in schools to protect students’ learning, mental health, and privacy.