Artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to fundamentally change the way students learn, search for information, and complete their schoolwork. Tools like chatbots and Generative AI apps have moved from workplaces and universities to classrooms, but they are creating a new dilemma for parents and educators: how can children leverage AI without becoming dependent on it?
A new Deloitte survey of 1,150 parents of school-aged children clearly highlights this uncertainty. The results show that artificial intelligence has already gained a significant place in education, despite the fact that many schools still lack clear rules for its use .
Parents fear overreliance on AI
One of the most striking findings of the survey is that about one in two parents is concerned that their child is relying too much on artificial intelligence for schoolwork.
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This concern is not just about the possibility of copying assignments or easily finding ready-made answers. Many parents fear that the constant use of AI tools may limit the development of critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving, skills that remain fundamental to the learning process.
At the same time, several experts estimate that children, because they become familiar with new technologies very quickly , are likely to use artificial intelligence without fully understanding the limitations or errors that its answers may contain.
Schools have not kept up with developments
Interestingly, parents' concern is emerging at a time when schools themselves are still in a transitional stage.
Just 22% of parents said their child's school officially provides Generative AI tools, while only 33% reported that there are specific guidelines or policies for the use of these applications within the educational process.
However, almost three in ten children are already using generative AI applications to complete schoolwork, which shows that the technology is spreading much faster than educational institutions can adapt.
The great paradox of parents
The survey reveals a particularly interesting paradox. On the one hand, parents fear that children are using AI too much. On the other hand, more than a third of respondents believe that schools are not adequately training students in AI skills, while about one in eight say they are willing to pay for after-school classes or specialized AI learning programs.
In other words, most parents don't want to exclude their children from AI. Instead, they want them to learn to use it properly, responsibly, and creatively.
From YouTube to chatbots
The discussion about artificial intelligence is strongly reminiscent of what preceded it in recent years with social networks, smartphones and video platforms.
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A recent Business Insider described how elementary school students were using Gemini Google's on school Chromebooks not for educational purposes, but to create humorous images. The incident shows that children approach new technologies mainly through play and experimentation, long before adults establish rules for use.
At the same time, many teachers have begun to return to more traditional forms of assessment. Handwritten assignments, oral exams, and in-class activities are returning to the spotlight, as they allow teachers to more easily determine whether a piece of work is truly the product of a student's thinking.
The issue is not the use, but the way of using it
Education experts argue that the key question is not whether children should use artificial intelligence, but how they use it.
A student who asks a chatbot to write their entire assignment is missing out on important learning experiences. Conversely, a student who leverages AI to understand a difficult concept, organize their ideas, or check their mistakes can gain substantial benefits.
Accordingly, many studies on children's screen use have shown that the quality of the content and guidance from an adult are more important than the total time spent using the screen.
Education needs to adapt
Artificial intelligence is expected to become a key tool in the job market in the coming years, and it is almost certain that today's students will use it every day as professionals. For this reason, several analysts believe that completely banning it from schools is not a realistic solution.
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Instead, the biggest challenge is creating a modern educational framework that teaches not only how to use AI, but also how to evaluate its responses, how to identify its errors, and when it should not be a substitute for human thinking. Until that happens, parents, students, and educators will continue to search for the right balance between innovation and meaningful learning, in an era where AI is evolving faster than the rules that attempt to regulate it.
