Students who use AI generally score worse at school
A global OECD study indicates that students who frequently use AI for schoolwork tend to perform worse academically than those who do not. However, the report suggests that intentional, moderate use combined with critical assessment training can lead to positive learning outcomes.
Why it matters
As AI becomes integrated into classrooms, this data provides evidence that the method of engagement with AI is more critical to educational success than the mere presence of the technology.
Students who use AI to help them study tend to perform worse at school than those who don’t, according to data from a global OECD educational report. The situation is more complex than it sounds though, with certain types of AI use giving learners a slight boost, especially among students taught to critically assess how well the AI tools perform.
The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) takes data from countries around the world every few years. This year’s study, based on data collected in 2025, is the first to be carried out since AI use went truly mainstream. It tests 15-year-old students in science, math and reading, and draws from over 760,000 students in 91 countries.
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