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Comment by andsoitis

2 days ago

Moneyshot: "The results are eye-opening. After six months, pupils using ai saw their average homework score rise by 18% across all subjects. The time they took to complete each assignment fell from an average of 64 minutes to 45. But come exam time, the same students scored 20% below their classmates who had not called on ai’s help. Homework scores once predicted exam performance; now those who score highest are, perversely, more likely to do worse in exams."

Study design: "David Stromberg of Stockholm University and Victor Lei and Wu Yanhui of the University of Hong Kong set out to fill the gap. They tracked 27,000 pupils aged 12-18 in China, where ai adoption has been fast. Around 80% reported using models such as Doubao and DeepSeek; the other 20% formed the control group."

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andsoitis

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magicalhippo  2 days ago

> Homework scores once predicted exam performance

As with most training the journey is the point, not the destination.

That said, I think smart use of AI could help. It could explain concepts in a way that might help you understand better, it could probe your knowledge in a more dynamic way by tailoring questions, and so on. This requires the AI be restrained by some harness, not free to write down the answers for you.

  • nxc18  3 hours ago

    > help. It could explain concepts in a way that might help you understand better

    People say that all the time, but does anyone really think a lack of good explanations for things is a limiting factor in 2026? Or even 2010?

    • jedberg  2 hours ago

      When I was in college, we had office hours with the prof and the TAs, we had group study sessions, and private tutors. Or you could ask your friends. All of those required going somewhere at a specific place and time and asking someone else to give up their time for you.

      AI gives you a way to get the same help without asking another human. Say of that what you will, but not everyone was comfortable asking other humans for help even back then.

    • magicalhippo  3 hours ago

      Back when I was studying there were topics which I had a really hard time grasping. Having a personal tutor that I could ask specific questions and have a back and forth with would have helped a lot I think. At least the few times I did have such an opportunity that was definitely the case.

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  • oblio  4 hours ago

    > This requires the AI be restrained by some harness

    How would this magic harness look like and why would anyone use it?