MIT study warns using ChatGPT for essays may tank learning skills
A fresh study from MIT examined how people fare writing essays with AI, search engines, or their own brains. The results raise red flags about over-relying on AI like ChatGPT.
Researchers split 54 adults into three groups writing three essays: one using ChatGPT, one using search engines, one doing it all themselves. Brain activity and essay content were analyzed. 
The AI users showed far less cognitive engagement. They struggled more to recall essay quotes and felt less ownership of their work.
In a surprise fourth essay, roles flipped. Those who’d used AI first now had to write solo. Their brain engagement barely improved, lagging well behind the original brain-only group. Researchers flagged this as "cognitive debt": AI use possibly dulling critical skills.
But the study’s lead authors caution the sample for the final session was only 18 people, so results are preliminary.
Critics say the “cognitive debt” claim misses factors like task familiarization—brain-only participants got better simply by repeating the task. AI users lacked repeated practice solo, skewing results.
The study underscores a core issue. AI essay help is replacing deep engagement without educators raising the bar. That’s like calculators before complex exams existed: students must be challenged beyond basic tasks.
The key is teaching when and how to use AI smartly — offloading some tasks, while still developing real creativity and critical thinking.
One takeaway:
"Using ChatGPT to help write essays … can lead to ‘cognitive debt’ and a ‘likely decrease in learning skills.’" — MIT researchers
The study sparks fresh debate on AI in education. For now, overusing AI for essays risks making students dependent, not sharper.
