Emmanuel Chijiaku, an AI engineer at a media firm, describes artificial intelligence’s growing role in education as a paradox. “It can be a blessing or a curse,” he says, reflecting on a technology that has redefined human potential.
A recent global survey by Statista found that 86% of students use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their schoolwork, with nearly a quarter turning to large-language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT daily. For many students, the scenario has become routine: facing the mental strain of academic tasks, they outsource assignments to AI, which delivers polished results in seconds. Efficient? Absolutely. Creative? Not always.
The survey also revealed that 54% of students globally use AI tools at least weekly. This widespread adoption underscores how deeply integrated AI has become in academics, celebrated for its ability to simplify problem-solving. But as students increasingly lean on AI, questions arise about the potential cost to their creativity.
Chijiaku sees AI as a double-edged sword, which can enhance the creative process—helping students brainstorm, refine ideas and solve problems. However, the danger lies in overdependence.
“There are cases where students submit entire projects crafted by AI,” he says. “That’s not collaboration; it’s replacement.” When students bypass personal effort, they lose more than just the chance to learn—they risk sacrificing the essence of their creativity.
The Diminishing Spark
For Chijiaku, creativity is more than originality—it’s about the journey. “If a student can’t explain their work or expand on it without AI’s help, that’s a problem,” he argues. This overreliance on AI doesn’t just diminish creativity; it erodes it.
This erosion of critical thinking and imagination, Chijiaku warns, could have long-term implications—not just for individuals but for entire industries.
Chijiaku paints a troubling picture of a future where a generation raised on AI struggles to create or innovate without it. “If students lose their ability to imagine, what happens to literature, art, and science?” he asks.
The solution, he believes, lies in balance. Students should use AI as a tool, not a crutch. By integrating hands-on creativity with technology, schools can ensure originality and preserve cultural relevance.
Beyond creativity, the growing divide between students who rely heavily on AI and those who grasp foundational problem-solving skills is another concern. Without critical thinking, industries dependent on fresh ideas risk stagnation.
Bringing Ethics Into Focus
Ethical AI use is non-negotiable. Schools must teach students not only how to use AI but how to use it responsibly. While staying ahead of technological advancements, educators should advocate for a curriculum that emphasises academic integrity, originality and transparency.
Boundaries are essential. Assignments should require critical thinking and personal insights rather than just polished outputs. Tools that detect AI-assisted content could help monitor usage. For example, setting a maximum allowable percentage of AI contribution might ensure students engage meaningfully with their work while leveraging technology.
For Chijiaku, the spark of creativity is a distinctly human gift that must be protected and celebrated in this rapidly changing world.
Emmanuel Chijiaku, an AI engineer, highlights the dual role of AI in education as both advantageous and potentially detrimental. A Statista survey indicates that 86% of students incorporate AI into their studies, with a notable portion utilizing tools like ChatGPT daily. While AI enhances efficiency and problem-solving, Chijiaku warns of the risk to creativity due to overdependence, where students might substitute personal effort with AI-generated work, leading to a decline in critical thinking and originality.
He foresees a concerning future if students lose the ability to imagine independently, which could impact fields like literature, art, and science. Chijiaku argues for a balanced approach where AI is utilized as an aid rather than a replacement, allowing for the integration of hands-on creativity to maintain originality and cultural significance. This includes addressing the divide between those reliant on AI and those with foundational problem-solving skills to avoid industry stagnation.
Ethical AI use is essential, with schools responsible for instructing students not only on AI utilization but also on maintaining academic integrity and originality. Suggested measures include assignments fostering critical thinking and frameworks to monitor AI's role in student work, ensuring engagement with technology while preserving human creativity.
