With ChatGPT, who needs to do homework?

The rise of artificial intelligence and generative AI in particular have led to rapid changes in many fields, and many more questions about the future of work and life in general.

One field that’s always been focused on the future is the world of education. From pre-school to post-doc, educators and educational institutions have prioritized preparing learners for success in their next steps. Whether it’s readiness for the next grade level, for college, or for careers, looking ahead is key to ensuring student success.

While the future of possibilities has always seemed exciting, what happens when we’re not sure what’s next? Preparing students for a world in which generative AI is the new normal means careful consideration from educators, parents, and all members of our learning communities.

To explore these questions and their implications, we conducted a quick study.

How is AI impacting the present?

Recognizing that experience shapes understanding, it’s important to start with level-setting. Among non-parents, 78% indicated an understanding of AI and 69% said they had a good understanding of the latest developments. Parents (defined as current, past, or future parents or guardians of school-aged children) had higher ratings on both fronts, with 84% understanding the concept of AI and 74% updated on the latest.

Are parents more likely to be exposed to AI through experiences of or with their children? Interestingly, there was a 19% gap between non-parents (53%) and parents (72%) who identified as knowingly using AI regularly. While measuring actual AI usage was beyond the scope of this study, the clear follow-up question is if these groups really are using AI differently or if their perception is the only difference.

How will AI impact the future?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, 48% of participants identified ‘Save human time’ as AI’s most positive effect on the future. Close behind, ‘Reduce human error’ tied with ‘Empower learning’ at 44%.

Among parents, however, ‘Save human time’ was tied with ‘Empower learning’ in first place, at 53%. Interestingly, many traditional learning models prioritize seat-time or hours of experience. Will faster learning be more efficient?

How will AI impact education?

Overall, our study showed that 76% of parents (and 62% of non-parents) think AI will have a positive impact on education.

More specifically, top benefits include helping to close the achievement gap (69% of parents, 59% of non-parents) and making learning more accessible for all students (74% of parents, 63% of non-parents).

Of course, it’s not all rosy optimism.

Even with just a few options presented, participants indicate significant concern about possible downsides of AI usage. 78% of parents and 72% of non-parents believe that AI will have a negative impact on students’ creativity. 79% of parents and 75% of non-parents believe that students’ critical thinking will suffer. Overall, an even more significant number of parents (80%) think that AI will make students lazy (and 73% of non-parents agree).

Are you open to AI in education?

Would you be surprised to find that 79% of parents are open to AI in education, compared to just 61% of non-parents?

Back to the discussion about homework: 66% of parents believe that schools should allow students to use AI to complete their assignments – compared to just 50% of non-parents.

Looking ahead

What’s next for AI in education? Clear communication is key. As schools and parents adapt to the evolving tech landscape, clarity about policies and expectations will be critical.

First, do schools have AI policies? 34% of parents studied didn’t think so or weren’t sure. Then, have schools communicated with these parents about how AI will be used in the classroom? 30% don’t know or aren’t sure.

And what’s happening now? Are kids already using AI to do their homework? 66% of parents say yes. Are they learning about it in school? 74% of parents say yes. And how are they using it? 80% of parents say their kids use AI confidently.

As parents and decision-makers become more familiar with AI, school policy and student usage will continue to evolve. Where gaps in understanding, communication, and access exist, the potential for confusion and misalignment will persist.

Key Takeaway: Before it’s too late, schools and other organizations must get the data they need to assess usage, perceptions, and next steps.

For a deeper dive into these results, see more details in this Sogolytics report.

Ready to conduct your own study? Get started with a free trial today or connect with our team for a demo of our more advanced solutions.