A recent study examined how interaction with artificial intelligence could influence individuals' motivation to tackle problems independently. In the research, participants engaged in solving fraction problems or answering questions based on reading materials. Some individuals worked alone, while others had the option to seek help from a chatbot, which provided hints or even complete answers. Participants had the choice to skip any questions they found challenging. After completing a set of tasks, the researchers unexpectedly removed access to the AI, leaving those previously reliant on the chatbot to face the last three questions without assistance. The results showed that participants who had depended on the AI performed significantly worse than those who had approached the tasks independently from the beginning. Additionally, they exhibited a higher tendency to give up and skip questions, despite no penalties for incorrect answers. This tendency was notably stronger among individuals who were used to receiving immediate solutions from the chatbot. The researchers concluded that for AI to be an effective educational tool, it must adopt a different approach. A competent tutor would not simply provide answers but would clarify concepts, encourage independent attempts, and then help the student correct their mistakes. The study suggests that AI should emulate this method to foster genuine learning.
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