There’s an interesting and somewhat troubling trend unfolding in classrooms. Microsoft’s latest research shows that when students lean heavily on AI tools, their ability to think critically tends to slip. On the flip side, students who feel more confident in their own abilities are better at keeping their critical thinking sharp when they use AI.
This finding raises big questions for anyone in education. As AI becomes more woven into how we learn and teach, we need to really consider how it’s shaping the way students think. The stakes are high.
Another recent study, published by MDPI in 2025, highlights this concern even further. Researchers found a clear negative link between using AI tools and critical thinking skills. Younger students, especially those between 17 and 25, were more likely to rely on AI and had lower critical thinking scores compared to older learners.
So why is this happening? It comes down to a key difference: AI “thinks” in patterns and data, while humans think in ways that involve curiosity, judgment, and questioning. When we trust AI too much, we risk turning off those critical parts of our brain.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this. How can we help students keep their critical thinking strong even as AI becomes a bigger part of learning? Share your ideas below! 👇