Robert Siciliano warns that an MIT study found students turn to ChatGPT and Google before teachers or textbooks. He argues this erodes curiosity and critical thinking, since AI outputs are predictions, not facts, and most students can't fact-check. He calls on educators to teach kids how to evaluate information and ask better questions.
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ChatGPT may be eroding critical thinking skills according to a new MIT study. I am Robert Siciliano. I am a dad and a cybersecurity and digital literacy expert. And this is What the Fuck?! Time reports students are turning to ChatGPT and Google, not teachers or textbooks, as their first stop for learning. Instead of raising their hands in class, they're typing questions into AI tools and getting instant answers, summaries, and even essay drafts. A fuckin' AI. AI tutor? Tools like ChatGPT are replacing studying, how students think in asking questions and building knowledge. It's not just about cheating, it's about dependency. When AI becomes the first and only teacher, what happens to curiosity, critical thinking, or learning how to learn? Why does this matter? Students are outsourcing thinking to tools designed to predict, not teach. AI doesn't always give accurate or unbiased info, but most students don't know how to fact-check. Platforms platforms like Google and ChatGPT feed answers that are algorithm-driven, not necessarily educational. What to do? AI is not a teacher, so teach students how to evaluate information, not just consume it. Use AI as a launchpad for discussion, not a shortcut to the answer. Critical thinking means questioning sources, even if they come from smart-sounding bots. Digital literacy matters. In a world where AI gives fast answers, the The real skill is knowing what questions to ask and when to dig deeper.
