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By Gavin Boyle
A study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that people who use AI tools like ChatGPT to write essays engage much less with the material than those who use search engines or rely solely on their own brain power.
“EEG analysis presented robust evidence that distinct modes of essay composition produced clearly different neural patterns reflecting divergent cognitive strategies…Brain connectivity systematically scaled down with the amount of external support: the Brain-only group exhibited the strongest, widest-ranging networks, Search Engine group showed intermediate engagement, and the [AI] assistance elicited the weakest overall coupling,” the study said.
What this means is that the more assistance a user had from technology, the less the essay they created impacted them. This meant that many of those who used AI to write their essay couldn’t directly quote from their piece — 83% compared to 10% for those who used a search engine or solely brainpower.
Additionally, the study found that those who used AI were less likely to produce a unique essay as the model generally focused on similar topics. Furthermore, the more a participant relied on technology to write their essay, the less they were to take ownership of it.
Related: How AI and ChatGPT are Changing Education
These results are extremely important as use of AI chatbots like ChatGPT continues grow. Since the product became mainstream in 2023, many have adopted it into their workflow, either in the workforce or in school.
A Pew study from the start of the year found that 26% of kids use ChatGPT to complete their schoolwork — up 13% from 2023. While even their peers recognize that this is cheating, the practice is difficult to stop because AI tends to score half a letter grade better than humans on tests and is difficult for teachers to detect.
“It’s not new for students to try to gain an edge,” explained high school teacher Kyle Kellogg. “Teaching is such a people business. It’s not a technology business. It’s a relationship between teachers and students and trying to convince students that what you’re selling is worth doing the right way.”
The MIT study is an excellent start for this argument. Though grades are important, ultimately, the purpose of education is to create smarter people who have more tools than they started with. Students need to realize that the short-term gain of a good grade is not worth the long-term effects of cheating, which only harm them in the end.
Read Next: Is ChatGPT Use Becoming More Common Among School Kids?
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