Why AI in Education isn’t the problem - but misusing it is

Imagine hiring a personal trainer to lift the weights for you. They could probably do it faster and better than you can—but what’s the point? The reason for having a trainer is to guide and motivate you to do the work yourself. The same logic applies to students using AI tools like ChatGPT to complete their assignments.

As someone who works closely with AI and its adoption in various fields, I see this pattern often: people assume AI exists to take over the work. But in reality, its greatest value lies in helping us do the work better. In education, however, there’s a unique challenge. When students use AI to skip assignments, they bypass the very process that builds the skills and understanding they need!

So how do educators navigate this? While I don’t claim to have all the answers, I believe the way we frame the role of AI is critical to addressing the issue.

The allure of AI as a shortcut

AI tools like ChatGPT are powerful and easy to use. For students, it’s no surprise they see AI as a shortcut—one that offers instant solutions to complex tasks. But this raises a bigger question: why do students feel the need to shortcut the process in the first place?

From what I’ve observed, it often comes down to a disconnect. Students may see assignments as tasks to be completed, rather than as opportunities to grow. If the “why” behind the work isn’t clear, it’s tempting to offload the effort to AI. This isn’t just an education problem—it’s a broader issue with how people approach tools like AI.

What learning and fitness have in common

Here’s where I see an interesting parallel. Both teaching and personal training aim to push people slightly beyond their current abilities, into what psychologists call the zone of proximal development.

This is the sweet spot: tasks that are just difficult enough to challenge you, but achievable with the right guidance. A good personal trainer doesn’t lift the weights for you—they guide you to tackle something hard, but manageable, ensuring you grow stronger over time. Teachers are doing the same: helping students extend their capabilities while providing the support they need to succeed.

AI can be a valuable guide in this zone, but only if used correctly. When students use AI to avoid effort entirely, they step out of that zone—and miss the opportunity to grow.

AI as a partner in growth

What’s interesting is how people are starting to use AI in other fields. In many cases, the most effective approaches don’t replace effort—they enhance it. I’ve seen AI used to:

• Spark ideas when creativity stalls.
• Identify blind spots in knowledge or skills.
• Streamline repetitive tasks so more time is spent on meaningful work.

These are lessons that could easily translate to education. Instead of banning AI, the focus could shift to showing students how to use it in ways that enhance their learning.

For example, using ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas for an essay, rather than writing it entirely. Or using it to test their understanding by asking it questions, then critically evaluating the answers.

The broader challenge

The risk isn’t just students misusing AI—it’s the long-term consequences of not engaging with learning. From what I’ve seen in other industries, when people lean too heavily on AI, they lose opportunities to build essential skills. In education, the stakes feel even higher.

If students skip the effort now, they miss out on developing the critical thinking, problem-solving, and resilience they’ll need for the future. Worse, they may come to see learning as something to “get through,” rather than an opportunity to grow.

An outside perspective

As someone who works outside education, I don’t claim to have the answers to these challenges. But what I do see is an opportunity. AI doesn’t have to undermine learning. With the right approach, it can play the role of a personal trainer: helping students push themselves, stretch their abilities, and achieve more than they thought possible.

The question isn’t whether students will use AI—they already are. The question is: how do we help them see AI not as a way out, but as a way forward?