MIT Warns of Excessive AI Dependence Among U.S. Students... Academic Achievement Also Lags Behind China

"Excessive AI Use Triggers 'Cognitive Surrender'"
U.S. Math and Science Performance Falls Behind China

AP Yonhap News

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has warned that the growing dependence of American students on artificial intelligence (AI) is causing serious risks to learning. The phenomenon referred to as 'cognitive surrender,' in which students forgo thinking for themselves, is spreading. Last year’s global assessment of academic achievement also revealed that the United States significantly lagged behind China.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 15th (local time), MIT’s AI Usage Study Committee recently warned in a report that the risks to students’ thinking and learning due to AI have increased. The report pointed out that students are experiencing aggravated cognitive surrender because they immediately rely on AI to find answers whenever they face even minor difficulties with assignments or problem-solving. Nevertheless, the report noted that students mistakenly believe they have learned.

A study published by MIT last year also found that people who used AI chatbots as writing assistants struggled to remember what they had written just minutes after completing their essays. Natalya Kosmina, a researcher at MIT who participated in the study, explained, "They essentially did not use the memory networks that help with recall at all."

There are also concerns that American students’ academic performance is significantly declining. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), in its editorial dated the 14th, pointed out, "Last year’s international assessment (PISA) showed that U.S. students lagged far behind Chinese students," adding, "The PISA results indicate that weakening educational competitiveness is a more fundamental problem for the U.S. in its innovation race against China."

PISA is the world’s largest international academic assessment comparison study, overseen by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It evaluates and compares math, science, and reading literacy among 15-year-old students worldwide, conducted every three to four years. Last year, 760,000 students from 91 countries participated in the assessment.

In the PISA report, released on the 8th, China (Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province) ranked first among the participating countries in both mathematics and science. In contrast, the United States ranked 16th in mathematics and 8th in science, showing that it significantly lagged behind China.

The WSJ explained, "The ultimate gap in mathematics proficiency between the U.S. and China is equivalent to more than seven years," and "China’s average science score reached 597, while the U.S. scored 502, resulting in an almost 100-point gap." It added, "American schools are not producing enough students equipped with advanced engineering and mathematics skills," and "high per-student spending does not automatically translate into higher academic achievement."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.