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Although artificial intelligence is increasingly present in academia, many college students are concerned about the side effects of overuse. Among the fears are intellectual stagnation, professional vulnerability and loss of creative and analytical skills.
Artificial intelligence has become an ally for university students. But not everyone is happy about it. While many use technology to ease their study load, others report fear, guilt and even professional stagnation.
The presence of AI in universities is growing — along with concerns about its long-term effects.
Between ease and discomfort
Several college students have reported that AI has been helpful, but also a source of annoyance. Some avoid it altogether. Other students admit to using it, but with reservations. The main complaint? Fear of becoming dependent on technology.
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Ellis Edgeman, an accounting graduate from Florida State University, try not to use it. “I don’t trust it very much. It feels more like work than doing the task.””, he said. He complains about the time spent checking and rewording AI-generated texts.
Michael, a computer science student at University of Miami, shares this anguish. He fears that his evolution as a programmer will stop in time.It's hard to get out once you get in. Your skills are kind of locked in.”, commented.
Guilt, routine and a push at the end of the semester
Guilt is also a common feeling. Michael admits he turns to AI most often toward the end of the semester, when fatigue sets in. “The longer the semester goes on, the more exhausted you become. It’s easy to fall into that trap.”", said.
Despite this, he notes that practically everyone uses it, in some way. It's a question of dosage.
AI as a relief for repetitive tasks
For many, AI is a tool to eliminate what they call “bureaucratic work”. It’s not about delegating the entire task, but about speeding up the tiring parts.
Nicole Rivera-Reyes, a legal studies student at the University of Central Florida, avoids ChatGPT but uses Google’s NotebookLM instead. She uses AI to transcribe videos and take notes.It should be used to speed things up, not to completely redo things.”, He stated.
Samantha Wilson, a music education major, avoids AI for fear of being accused of plagiarism. But she understands those who use it.Some colleagues use it for everything. They feel that writing is a waste of time.", said.
Overload as a trigger
Some people see AI as a way to survive the demanding routine. A musical theater student at the University of Miami said she needed to get a good grade, but she didn't understand the lessons. She turned to AI.She broke down the concepts more clearly than the teacher."
Even with the help, she says the process felt “check a box“But without technology, maintaining the routine would be unfeasible.”I have classes, a show I produce, hours of work… If it weren’t for AI, I wouldn’t even be able to take care of myself", said.
Another student, a health sciences student, used AI to complete a physics course. “Before, I couldn’t eat anything. Now I can take a shower and sleep,” she said.
In a group and in despair
The use of AI isn’t limited to one university or another. An architectural engineering student at Farmingdale State College in New York reported that his entire class was behind by the end of the semester. The result? A collective effort at “silent cheating.”
During a final exam, he said, students used AI and platforms like Chegg to share answers. “No one was holding anything back. It was just a group trying to survive."
Fear of cognitive atrophy
Some students are concerned about the possible “skill atrophy”. Riley, a computer science major at the University of Florida, has already felt the impact. “I used AI for something. A month later, I couldn't remember how I did it."
Researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon warn of the same risk. They found that the more a person automate routine tasks, the less engaged she becomes with the process. This can impair independent reasoning and problem solving.
Research suggests that AI can cause a “change in cognitive effort”, leaving the user only supervising tasks, without participating in critical thinking.
Technology needs to be used well
Patrick Wilson, an anthropology student at the University of Hawaii, believes that the correct use of AI depends on each individual. For him, the tool is useful, but requires awareness. “It is our responsibility to keep our skills active. If you use them right, you are still thinking critically.", said.
John Keon, a finance student at Saint Joseph’s University, agrees that AI is the next technological step. But he makes an important distinction between academic and professional use.
"In a company, it's great. But in college, you lose the brainstorming. And that's a fundamental part of the creative process.”, He explained.
AI is a part of many college students’ academic lives. But there’s a fine line between using it and relying on it. For some, it saves time and eases the burden. For others, it poses a real risk of losing essential skills.
The choice seems to fall to each student. But the debate over how — and how much — to use this technology is far from over.
With BI information.
