Study finds AI boosted homework scores 18% -- then tanked exam results 20% | Fortune

A new study reported by Fortune links AI homework shortcuts to an early rise in grades and a later drop in exam performance. Researchers from the Centre for Economic Policy Research analyzed 26,811 Chinese students in grades 7 through 12, finding that AI adoption increased homework scores by 18% and reduced completion time by 30%. However, within six months, monthly exam scores fell by 20%, and college entrance practice results dropped by 18% to 24%, reaching their lowest after two years. The study from Stockholm University and the University of Hong Kong identified a pattern: students most likely to see the “diverging scores” were those who effectively outsourced homework using AI while doing it quickly. The researchers said the negative learning impact was driven by about 80% of students exhibiting that behavior. The findings add to broader concerns about generative AI use in education.