How are professors at North-West University responding to AI use in higher education?

Professors at North-West University, such as Anitia Lubbe, argue that higher education is "focusing only on policing" AI use instead of teaching students to critique it.

What does billionaire Mark Cuban think about students using AI?

Mark Cuban believes that students who learn to collaborate with AI, rather than rely on it, will build stronger critical-thinking skills and be "best equipped to lead" in the future workplace.

What concerns do researchers at Oxford University Press have about AI's impact on student learning?

Researchers at Oxford University Press say AI is creating a generation of "faster but shallower" thinkers, with many students admitting the tools make learning "too easy" and leading to a loss of depth in their thinking.

Home / Education / Professors Warn AI Could Weaken Student Critical Thinking Skills

Professors Warn AI Could Weaken Student Critical Thinking Skills

11 Nov

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Summary

81% of teachers worry AI overreliance could hurt critical thinking
Researchers say AI is creating "faster but shallower" student thinkers
Professors fear students are "outsourcing thought itself" to AI

Professors Warn AI Could Weaken Student Critical Thinking Skills

As of November 11th, 2025, professors are sounding the alarm that students are increasingly outsourcing their thinking to artificial intelligence (AI), risking a significant decline in critical reasoning abilities. A recent study by Samsung found that while 88% of US middle and high school teachers believe AI will be important for their students' futures, 81% worry that overreliance on the technology could weaken critical-thinking skills.

This concern is echoed by researchers at Oxford University Press, who say AI is creating a generation of "faster but shallower" thinkers. Their study of 2,000 UK teenagers revealed that while 8 in 10 students use AI tools for schoolwork, many admit the tools make learning "too easy," leading to a loss of depth in their thinking.

Across universities, professors are warning that the problem runs even deeper, with students no longer just using AI, but "outsourcing thought itself." Anitia Lubbe, an associate professor at North-West University in South Africa, argues that higher education is "focusing only on policing" AI use instead of teaching students to critique it. Kimberley Hardcastle, a business professor at Northumbria University, warns this risks an "atrophy of epistemic vigilance," the ability to question, verify, and think independently.