Smarter machines, weaker minds? Rethinking higher education in the AI era‬

As artificial intelligence transforms the way students learn, write, and interact with information, we‬ must ask not just how higher education is evolving—but why it exists at all.‬

The AI Tipping Point in Education‬

‭Remember the days of #2 pencils, scantrons, and pushing through writer’s block to finish an‬ essay? Those sweet, frustratingly human experiences are quickly becoming relics. With AI‬ sweeping through every corner of modern life, students are turning to tools like ChatGPT and‬ Perplexity not just for complex writing assignments, but even for basic tasks—like “how to‬ rephrase the dog ate my homework” or “how to ask for an extension without sounding like I’m‬‭ lying”—often outsourcing the process of creative thinking entirely.‬‭

What used to be the hallmark of academic rigor is now done in seconds with a well-engineered‬ prompt.‬

Even leaders in education technology are leaning into this transformation. Duolingo CEO Luis‬ von Ahn remarked that AI is a better teacher than humans, but that schools will still exist‬ “because you’ll need childcare.” (‬‭Imagine having Duo‬‭ the Owl as your babysitter.)‭

But this isn’t just a new set of tools—it’s a fundamental redefinition of the educational‬ experience. And as universities race to integrate AI into classrooms, families must pause and‬ ask: What is higher education actually preparing students‬‭ for‬‭—and what is it leaving behind?‬

The Human Element: What AI Can’t Replace‬

‭I’ll never forget my seventh-grade English teacher, the first adult at school who saw potential‬‭ in me after I immigrated to the U.S. without speaking English. She awarded me the monthly‬ “Smarties Award” for effort. It was a simple gesture, but it changed my relationship with‬ learning. I’m equally grateful to my ninth-grade math teacher, who invited me to tutor a peer. Her improvement from D’s to A’s on exams in just three sessions inspired me to create a peer tutoring group, which grew to serve over 100 students in a year. These moments of recognition helped propel me from a struggling ESL student to‬ an Ivy League graduate.‬

We all carry stories like this—moments when a teacher sparked curiosity, stayed after school to‬‭ help us grasp a difficult concept, or introduced us to a path we didn’t know existed. These‬ interactions are foundational to the human learning experience, ones that no chatbot can‬ replace.‬‭

On Critical Thinking‬

‭We may be living in the most information-rich era in history, but we’re also facing a deepening‬ crisis of cognition.‬‭ One student put it bluntly: “I spend hours and hours on TikTok until my eyes hurt. ChatGPT‬ lets me write an essay in two hours that normally takes twelve.” Platforms meant to assist are‬ becoming crutches—and in some cases, full-on substitutes—for cognitive engagement.‬

‭Recent research from MIT’s Media Lab reinforces this concern. In a study titled‬‭ Your Brain on‬ ChatGPT‭, researchers found that participants who relied‬‭ on large language models (LLMs) like‬ ChatGPT to write essays exhibited significantly weaker brain connectivity compared to those‬ who wrote without AI tools. EEG data showed reduced activity in key regions related to‬ memory, focus, and critical thinking. Over time, those who depended on AI not only produced‬ lower-quality work but also reported less ownership over their ideas and struggled to recall‬ what they had written.‬

There’s nothing wrong with using tools like ChatGPT to support our learning. But if we’re using‬ it to bypass thinking altogether, we’re missing the point.‬

Writing‬‭ is‬‭ thinking. It slows down the mind. It forces‬‭ us to clarify, reflect, and translate‬ complex ideas into language. It’s uncomfortable. But discomfort is often where the most‬ powerful learning happens.‬‭

The Foundational Lesson We Forget to Teach‬

‭In my senior spring at Dartmouth College, the 19th year of my schooling journey, an education‬ course introduced me to an article that shifted my entire mindset around education. In "The‬ Purpose of Education" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he remarks,‬

“Education must enable a man to become more efficient... to sift and weigh‬ evidence, to discern the true from the false... to think intensively and to think‬ critically. But education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace‬ to society... Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”‭

Efficiency without intention is dangerous. Yet throughout our educational journeys, we’re‬ taught to chase metrics—grades, trophies, test scores—without ever being asked to define what‬ we’re learning for. It’s no wonder so many of my peers, especially fellow Ivy League graduates,‬ find themselves grappling with post-college disorientation, burnout, and the so-called‬ quarter-life crisis.‬

This is why a liberal arts foundation matters more than ever. In a world obsessed with speed‬ and metrics, we need students who can slow down, think critically, and live intentionally—not‬ just perform well.‬‭

A Call to Parents, Educators, and Students‬

‬‭The stakes are high. If we want our children to thrive in a world shaped by artificial‬‭ intelligence, we must give them more than credentials. We must help them cultivate character,‬ intellectual independence, and a sense of purpose that outlasts any trend or tool.‬

My hope is that every student, regardless of background, is empowered to become a lifelong‬ learner—not just for college admissions or job placement, but to better understand themselves‬ and the world around them. To think critically, act independently, and boldly challenge their‬ own assumptions.‬

Because while passions evolve and careers shift, one thing remains true: No matter how far‬ technology advances, the most powerful tool we have is still a mind that dares to ask why.‬