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scared of losing my ability to think means I’m not really learning English, learning and future development op-
critically,” the architecture major stu- processing information and forming portunities,” he says.
dent says. the structure of a piece of writing my-
Liu has integrated GenAI into his self,” he explains.
University students find GenAI useful for getting better grades study after taking a digital literacy

and efficiency but not for learning. course which taught students how to
use AI responsibly.
“For my essay on the middle class
and poverty in China, I used GenAI to
scout sources and analyse the assigned
article. It gave me ideas and helped me
highlight key points. I ended up earn-
ing A- for that assignment,” he says.
“I feel guilty sometimes, however.
I do half of the thinking, and AI does
the rest. But it still feels like my learn-
GenAI Makes Me Feel Stupid ing is coming entirely from the ma-
chine. My creative thinking has defi-
By Justin Tai nitely weakened,” he says.
Like Lau, Liu is drawn to using AI
for better grades and efficiency.
“Doing coursework ourselves
surely helps hone our skills, but Ge-
nAI boosts my efficiency so much. I
can now finish a paper in less than an University student Lau Tsz Ho uses GenAI to tackle science problems on his
hour. It used to take me a whole day. laptop (Photo Courtesy of Lau Tsz Ho)
Sometimes its ideas are even better
University student Lau Tsz Ho universities for research and learn- by the UK-based Higher Education than mine. It’s hard to turn the clock Despite the convenience, Chu is Fang stresses that a university de-
used to spend hours or even days ing support. However, they admit Policy Institute, 88 percent of students back,” the Year 2 student says. aware of the potential risks of the gree is not just about completing as-
struggling to solve difficult science they find that despite following these in the UK had used GenAI tools for “It saves time and my grades have overreliance on GenAI. signments or passing exams.
questions from classes. He might not guidelines, they have doubts about their assessments, from explaining improved. But I wonder if I’m trad- “Although I enjoy everything Ge- “It should show a student knows
find the answers in the end, but he still whether they are truly learning or just complex concepts to brainstorming ing away my ability to think for con- nAI offers, I worry that we’ll stop us- how to learn, has been part of a learn-
tried hard. prompting their way through GenAI. research ideas. venience. That’s what makes me feel ing our brains to think and learn. It ing community, and can critically
Now, he just feeds the questions he “I feel like I’m not using my brain In Hong Kong, universities are stupid, even when I’m doing well in could be dangerous for humankind reflect on their lives and society,” he
cannot solve to Generative Artificial anymore. I feel dumber the more I responding to this shift cautiously. terms of my grades,” he adds. and society if people aren’t aware of says.
Intelligence, better known as GenAI, rely on AI for schoolwork,” he shares. All eight public universities now of- Chu Ka Hai, a postgraduate stu- what’s happening or why, and just Edited By Kieon Paek
Edited By Kieon Paek
and gets instant answers with a smart “I basically just dump questions to fer access to an array of GenAI tools dent researching artificial intelligence, keep being fed information by AI,” he Sub-edited By Myo Min Htin
Sub-edited By Myo Min Htin
device in his hand. GenAI and hope for the best. Whether designed to support student learn- believes GenAI makes him do less adds.
“GenAI is not just a tool. It’s my it’s about solving complex equations, ing, from writing assistants to coding thinking, despite his rich knowledge Professor Fang Kecheng of the
lifesaver. A messiah,” the science ma- writing lab reports, or preparing Pow- tools. These tools are integrated under about technology. School of Journalism and Commu-
jor student says. erPoint presentations,” he says. each institution’s ethical guidelines, “I used to struggle a lot with long nication at The Chinese University of
“If AI disappeared tomorrow, I’d “Sometimes I don’t even know which emphasise transparency, aca- essays. So I turned to AI to help me Hong Kong, who researches the role
probably be kicked out of my univer- what the machine is talking about, demic integrity, and responsible use. check grammar and develop my ide- of technologies such as AI in shap-
sity. Without it, my grades would fall, but it sounds smart, so I go with it,” Another university student, Liu as. After that, I couldn’t resist using it ing the media landscape, warns heavy
and I wouldn’t be able to work out an- he adds. Sai Ho was sceptical about the use of anymore,” Chu shares. reliance on GenAI might disconnect
swers for my study on my own,” the Yet, his grade cards show a differ- GenAI at first, but his view changed “I can’t write grammatically correct students from the vital experience of
Year 2 student says. ent story. “I used to get Bs and Cs. after GenAI helped him score A- for paragraphs in English without GenAI learning and intellectual growth.
Students like Lau emphasise that Now, I’m seeing As and A-minuses, an assignment. now. I tried once doing it on my own, “Learning should be difficult, and
they use GenAI in accordance with even though I’m not actually learning “I was hesitant at first. GenAI gives and my draft was full of grammar even painful. No pain, no gain. If stu-
the course outlines provided by their anything,” he says. you answers so fast that I don’t need slips and awkward phrasing. It’s easier dents avoid this pain by relying on AI,

According to a 2025 survey done to process anything in my head. I was to let AI sort it out for me. But that they might lose their interest in any