AI Threatens Critical Thinking in Schools, Warn Educators

Teachers and students see AI tools undermining core educational values

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A high school student and teacher argue that the rapid integration of AI technology in schools is harming students' critical thinking skills and leading to increased cheating, as schools prioritize efficiency over nurturing independent thought. They warn that despite the promises of 'democratizing access' and 'reimagining pedagogy,' the consequences of AI in education may outweigh the benefits.

Why it matters

The integration of AI in schools raises concerns about the erosion of core educational values like independent thinking, academic integrity, and the teacher-student relationship. As schools rush to adopt AI tools, often driven by funding from tech companies, there are fears that students are becoming overly reliant on AI and losing the ability to think for themselves.

The details

Schools across the country have rapidly adopted AI detection tools and policies to address cheating, but many students are finding ways around these measures. Some schools have even replaced teachers with AI-powered 'tutors' for hours each day. Meanwhile, tech companies are aggressively marketing AI tools that explicitly encourage students to cheat, undermining efforts to maintain academic integrity.

  • In 2023, schools started taking the potential dangers of AI seriously and adopted policies to address cheating and critical thinking concerns.
  • By 2025, under pressure, schools have increasingly integrated AI tools into the classroom, with the percentage of schools allowing AI for schoolwork nearly doubling from the previous year.
  • In the 2023-2024 school year, only 28% of teachers reported strong guidance on how to handle suspected AI misuse by students.

The players

Liz Shulman

An English teacher at Evanston Township High School and a professor in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University, who is working on a book of stories from the classroom.

William Liang

A high school junior living in the San Francisco Bay Area and a columnist at The Hill.

Randi Weingarten

The president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the country's largest teacher union.

Van Jones

A political analyst who has claimed that AI is 'the closest thing to reparations (Black Americans) will ever get.'

Cluely

An 'undetectable' AI assistant that encourages users to 'cheat on everything,' including tests and presentations.

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What they’re saying

“We doubt these students are learning how to think for themselves when they're sitting with chatbots that mimic thought rather than discovering their own original thoughts.”

— Liz Shulman and William Liang, High school teacher and student (New York Times)

“AI is revolutionary for equity and inclusion. Jones called AI 'the closest thing to reparations (Black Americans) will ever get.'”

— Van Jones, Political analyst (New York Times)

“We wish AI could close the equity gap, but if AI equalizes anything, it's access to cheating and the outsourcing of critical thinking.”

— Liz Shulman and William Liang, High school teacher and student (New York Times)

“I use it for inspiration. It helps me organize.”

— Students (New York Times)

“Cheat on everything”

— Cluely, AI assistant (New York Times)

What’s next

Schools need to develop better policies and monitoring systems to address the use of AI tools by students, while also providing more support for teachers to return to traditional teaching methods that foster critical thinking.

The takeaway

The rapid integration of AI in schools, driven by funding and pressure from tech companies, is undermining core educational values like independent thought and academic integrity. Schools must take a more cautious and thoughtful approach to AI integration to ensure it enhances, rather than replaces, the essential role of teachers in nurturing students' critical thinking skills.