Are you using AI? A question that would puzzle anyone a mere year ago now welcomes answers of “Of course” and “who isn’t?” One of the hottest topics that involves AI is its impact on education. Will teachers be replaced? What will happen to schools? Are students even learning, or is AI doing all their work? We do not know what will come of the future, and many of these conversations are still going on and will continue to happen for the foreseeable future.
AI, or artificial intelligence, is a type of technology that performs various tasks typically done by humans, such as problem solving, decision making and learning. AI advancements in the field of technology have revolutionized the world in every space imaginable, growing from an average use of 15% in 2022 to 70% in 2025 across high schools in the U.S.
Although relatively young, AI has already become an integral resource in our day-to-day lives. Taking over the workplace, schools and everyday tasks, it’s hard to find someone who isn’t using it. Different apps and websites specifically for AI have multiplied after the success of ChatGPT, its popularity catalyzing this new era. As of 2025 in the U.S., 44% of children actively engage with AI, and a grossing 54% use it on homework. Not only is it used by students, but on average, 60% of U.S. teachers have implemented AI into their daily teaching according to AIPRM.
Dr. Laura Roberts, professor of biblical and theological studies, has worked for Fresno Pacific University for 30 years. Serving her second year as director of general education, she stresses transparency between teachers and students on the topic of AI use.
“The most important thing for college students to know is what is allowed by the faculty in whatever class they are in,” Roberts said. “In general, in their lives and within the allowed parameters, the question of process vs. product is important for students to think about so they understand how they negatively impact their learning and growth by short-circuiting processes they should be undertaking.”
Collected data shows how students and teachers alike are using AI in a school environment.
Other Surprising statistics:
53% of students admitted to using AI to generate graded work
24.11% of charter, 15.2%
of public, and 6.44% of private high schools have reported cheating incidents.
51% of teachers and 34% of students feel AI has had a positive impact
Source: AIPRM
Grammar checking, writing tips, pointers and editing suggestions have been used frequently to assist with ideas and planning papers and projects. AI is offering helpful resources meant to cultivate improvement within students of all ages. The general problem seen globally in students is the use of AI with the wrong intention, having it write essays, complete whole assignments and give answers with no intent of gaining and learning from it. Seen across schools and education, parents and teachers believe AI limits students’ critical thinking capability, problem-solving, writing skills and overall intelligence. The improper use of AI is believed by many to be a moral issue of integrity that is plaguing the world of education.
A different problem has started to arise within the schooling space. Teachers are using AI to create lesson plans, presentations, tests, study guides and all other kinds of things instead of doing them themselves. This current issue is causing students to fail for using AI, but the same teachers who criticize students are having AI do their job for them.
Dr. Karen Walters advocates for AI and its profound capabilities – often using it to assist her in lesson plans, study guides, exams and activities – embracing it as a tool for higher education.
“Teachers can use AI to rapidly prepare lessons, homework sets, labs, etc., and honestly, I don’t see any practical way to keep AI out of our school environment; students and teachers both need to learn how to survive and thrive in an ever-changing technology environment,” Walters said. “AI is here, and we need to make decisions about how to best adapt to the learning environment. The real challenge will be how we use these tools, not whether they should be banned.”
Movements towards embracing AI and its prominence have been made in various colleges across the U.S. who have adopted new programs, allowing students to major or minor in AI-related subjects. AI has officially been made into a subject for study, pushing its progression further.
Colleges with AI degree programs:
University of California, San Diego
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Southern California
Senior James Emerian has taken the first steps towards his college journey, applying to different schools, looking forward to furthering his education and benefiting his future in business and AI.
“I’m planning to work in the business field, not specifically AI, but having an actual base understanding of how AI works is going to be a very valuable skill,” Emerian said. “Most high schoolers see AI as just chatbots and image generators but knowing how to utilize AI in the business world besides adding in ChatGPT integration or using AI images will be valuable for the near future.”
A recent anonymous poll collected from FC’s student body yields surprising results. When students were asked if they have ever used AI to assist them on an assignment, an astonishing 90.8% said yes. Further questioning revealed that 22.5% of students admitted to having AI complete a full assignment for them. The survey asked one final question inquiring about students’ honesty and self-reflection. “Do you rely on AI too much?” 21.2% of students answered yes, acknowledging their overuse of AI in their lives.
U.S. officials are looking toward the future, not denying AI but instead hoping to use it responsibly, promoting and improving education. The U.S. government is aware of AI’s potential and continues to debate what the best route to take is for the students of America. They stress the importance of properly using AI to ensure students are still learning and developing throughout their schooling career. The White House came out with a statement after a direct executive order from President Donald Trump.
A policy was instituted for “appropriate integration” by training and preparing educators through implementing task forces for regulation in the use of AI in schools. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law for AI in late September, aiming to secure safety in AI development. The Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, or S.B. 53, requires companies to go through a protocol in the creation of their AI websites, shielding users from impromptu data collection and hidden policies.
AI has become more than just an app you pull up when you have a question; well-known companies have begun to embrace its capabilities by integrating it into their websites. Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon and Netflix are just scratching the surface of thousands of brands that are using AI to their benefit. With its near-endless possibilities, whether good or bad, AI takes humans out of the equation. Interior, graphic and other fields of design, planning vacations, creating lists, developing and laying out new ideas, AI’s spontaneous beginning has changed everything.
Students are aware of AI’s risks, having their own concerns for their future and how AI will change their lives. Becoming less critical and capable thinkers, taking over jobs, internet safety, over-reliance and a world takeover are all real possibilities that the future adults of America are facing right now, and it’s not going away.
“I’m interested in majoring in artificial intelligence because AI is going to be incorporated into every single business in some way within the next 10 years,” Emerian said.
AI in education remains unclear for parents, students and teachers, but continues to advance as time continues, growing and changing the known ways of education.
To read more from The Feather visit: Opinion: Dancing with the Stars season 34 “Halloween Night” recap or FCS students participate in 9th Annual Bonfire Rally
