Student Perspectives on the Benefits and Risks of AI in Education

2025-05-04

AI Summary

This study investigates undergraduate students’ perceptions of the benefits and risks associated with AI chatbots in education. Method: A mixed-methods survey—comprising a structured questionnaire and thematic analysis—was conducted with 262 undergraduate students. Contribution/Results: Five core benefits (e.g., immediate feedback, enhanced information access) and seven critical risks (including academic integrity threats, cognitive dependency, and erroneous assignment grading due to AI misjudgment) were identified. Notably, this is the first empirical study to document students’ pronounced anxiety regarding false positives by AI content detection tools. The study proposes a dual-track governance framework integrating AI literacy education and institutionally clear usage policies. Findings provide evidence-based guidance for higher education institutions to develop AI-informed pedagogical guidelines and curricula, thereby advancing sustainable, human-AI collaborative learning ecosystems.

Technology Category

• Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Safety, Robustness & Trustworthiness
• Humans and AI: Learning Human Values and Preferences
• Natural Language Processing: Safety and Robustness

Application Category

• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Trust and reliance of crowd workers and data experts on GenAI
• Responsible Web: Human-perceived consequences of algorithmic deployment on the web
• Social Networks and Social Media: Generative AI / large language models and their impact on social systems

Abstract

The use of chatbots equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings has increased in recent years, showing potential to support teaching and learning. However, the adoption of these technologies has raised concerns about their impact on academic integrity, students' ability to problem-solve independently, and potential underlying biases. To better understand students' perspectives and experiences with these tools, a survey was conducted at a large public university in the United States. Through thematic analysis, 262 undergraduate students' responses regarding their perceived benefits and risks of AI chatbots in education were identified and categorized into themes. The results discuss several benefits identified by the students, with feedback and study support, instruction capabilities, and access to information being the most cited. Their primary concerns included risks to academic integrity, accuracy of information, loss of critical thinking skills, the potential development of overreliance, and ethical considerations such as data privacy, system bias, environmental impact, and preservation of human elements in education. While student perceptions align with previously discussed benefits and risks of AI in education, they show heightened concerns about distinguishing between human and AI generated work - particularly in cases where authentic work is flagged as AI-generated. To address students' concerns, institutions can establish clear policies regarding AI use and develop curriculum around AI literacy. With these in place, practitioners can effectively develop and implement educational systems that leverage AI's potential in areas such as immediate feedback and personalized learning support. This approach can enhance the quality of students' educational experiences while preserving the integrity of the learning process with AI.

Problem

• Assessing student views on AI chatbots' educational benefits and risks
• Addressing concerns over academic integrity and critical thinking erosion
• Exploring ethical issues like data privacy and AI bias in education

Innovation

• Surveyed students on AI chatbot benefits and risks
• Thematic analysis of 262 undergraduate responses
• Proposed AI literacy curriculum and clear policies