Can AI help you finish homework faster but make it harder to think on your own?

In a 2025 study, students using a basic AI assistant performed better during math practice. But when AI was removed, they scored 17% lower on independent exams compared with students who practiced without AI.

So, is AI making us smarter or just making us more dependent?

I'm Titus Ko, your host at Teens Inspiring Teens: Healthy Teens, Healthy Planet, a student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

In this episode, we explore three scientific studies from the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, and Microsoft Research with Carnegie Mellon University.

We'll discover:

• Why getting the correct answer doesn't always mean you've learned something.
• How an AI tutor designed to give hints can improve learning.
• Why confidence in AI isn't the same as critical thinking.
• How to use AI for homework without giving up independent thinking.

🧠 THE 7-DAY AI BRAIN CHALLENGE

Try this for just 10–15 minutes a day!

Day 1: Solve three questions without AI. Record your starting score.

Day 2: Try solving problems first. Ask AI for hints instead of answers.

Day 3: Ask AI to teach you something, then explain it back without looking.

Day 4: Fact-check an AI answer using your textbook or trusted sources.

Day 5: Solve a new version of a problem without copying the AI's method.

Day 6: Take a mini quiz with no AI help.

Day 7: Solve three fresh questions independently and compare your results with Day 1.

The challenge isn't about avoiding AI. It's about learning how to use it wisely. Your score is a personal practice check, not a scientific te