Are you using AI to study? Here’s how to do it well

Key points

• Students preparing for end-of-year exams may be tempted to use artificial intelligence for study. Research suggests they should first master foundational knowledge and skills.
• Relying on AI too heavily, a risk known as cognitive offloading, can lead students to stop studying before they have fully learnt the material. A Chinese study found high school students' monthly exam scores fell about 20 per cent over six months as their AI use rose, even though homework scores improved.
• Advice given is to attempt recall, explanation and problem-solving independently, then use AI for feedback or question practice.