28/06/2025
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF ChatGPT ON STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT has transformed the educational landscape by providing instant information and academic assistance to students across all levels. While ChatGPT can be an excellent support tool for research and understanding complex topics, its misuse has introduced several challenges to student learning. Many students now depend on it excessively, resulting in negative effects on their academic performance. This essay will discuss five major negative effects of ChatGPT on students: reduced critical thinking, increased academic dishonesty, decline in writing and research skills, overdependence on AI, and reduced classroom engagement.
1. Reduction in Critical Thinking Skills
One of the most noticeable negative effects of ChatGPT is the decline in students’ critical thinking abilities. When students rely on AI to generate answers, they often skip the process of analysing information, questioning assumptions, or drawing independent conclusions. For instance, a student preparing for a debate may use ChatGPT to generate arguments without taking the time to understand the topic or form personal viewpoints. Over time, this weakens the student’s analytical mindset, making it harder for them to tackle complex problems independently in exams or real-life situations.
2. Increase in Academic Dishonesty
ChatGPT has made it easier for students to commit academic dishonesty, either knowingly or unknowingly. Many students copy and paste answers generated by ChatGPT and submit them as their assignments, violating school policies on plagiarism and originality. A real-life example is the increasing number of university students caught submitting AI-written essays during online classes or take-home exams. Some institutions now use AI-detection tools to identify such content. These dishonest practices not only damage the student's credibility but also compromise the integrity of academic qualifications.
3. Decline in Writing and Research Skills
Academic excellence is built on the ability to write well and conduct thorough research. However, students who depend heavily on ChatGPT for essays, summaries, or homework often neglect these fundamental skills. For example, instead of reading textbooks and gathering data from credible sources, a student might simply ask ChatGPT to write a 1,000-word essay on climate change. While the AI might generate a coherent text, the student misses out on the opportunity to learn how to construct arguments, cite sources, and edit drafts—skills that are essential in higher education and beyond.
4. Overdependence on AI for Learning
Another harmful effect is the overdependence on ChatGPT for understanding academic content. Some students turn to AI even for the simplest tasks, such as definitions or solving math problems, instead of trying to solve them independently first. For example, a JSS2 student struggling with a math assignment may input every question into ChatGPT rather than practising and learning the formulas. This habit stifles independent learning and prevents the development of problem-solving strategies, which are crucial during tests where AI tools are not allowed.
5. Reduced Classroom Participation and Engagement
Lastly, the misuse of ChatGPT can lead to a decline in classroom participation. Students who habitually use AI to complete tasks may come to class unprepared or uninterested, assuming that the tool can always provide answers. Teachers often observe students who, instead of contributing to discussions or asking questions, remain passive because they have already used ChatGPT to “understand” the topic. This disengagement reduces interactive learning, weakens student-teacher relationships, and affects the overall learning atmosphere.
