Experts and academics have raised concerns about the negative impact of excessive reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) in academic research, warning that it diminishes researchers’ skills in analysis, critical thinking, and creativity.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), they highlighted that while AI tools can process and analyse data at impressive speeds, over-relying on them could result in poorer memory retention and academic performance. Recent studies have shown that excessive use of tools like ChatGPT has been linked to a decline in students’ cognitive abilities and academic outcomes.
Dr Abdullah Hamad al-Muraikhi, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at Qatar University, emphasised that when used properly, educational technology can enhance the learning experience. However, he noted a common misconception that AI would lead students to depend on it for completing assignments and conducting research.
He attributed this fear to the traditional education system, which still focuses on assignments and exams that primarily assess rote memorisation skills.
Dr al-Muraikhi explained that professors can often tell when a student’s work is not their own by comparing it to their in-class performance. He also pointed out that as AI tools evolve, it becomes harder to detect alterations in research that AI may have made, beyond what plagiarism detection software can identify.
He stressed the need for a reevaluation of teaching and assessment methods to align with technological advances. Dr al-Muraikhi emphasised that AI should be viewed as a tool to support learning, not replace the vital human interaction between teachers and students. He also called for ethical guidelines to ensure AI is used responsibly, securely, and without bias, while respecting the learner’s cultural context. AI, he said, should reinforce core educational values such as respect, integrity, and self-confidence, rather than merely acting as an information delivery tool.
For his part, Dr Khaled Waleed Mahmoud, a cybersecurity policy expert, shared similar concerns with QNA. He acknowledged the undeniable role of AI in advancing academic research, given the rapid pace of technological progress. AI has significantly enhanced traditional research methods by enabling researchers, particularly graduate students, to process vast amounts of data quickly and efficiently. For instance, at the high school level, students often rely on AI to generate ideas, organise information, and assist with data analysis, using tools like ChatGPT and smart search engines to gather research references. While at the university level, AI is increasingly being used to draft academic papers, collect data, and organise references. Graduate students are employing more advanced AI tools to analyse large datasets, apply algorithms to interpret results, and even predict certain scenarios, all while utilising machine learning and translation techniques to enhance accuracy.
Dr Mahmoud acknowledged that AI not only increases research efficiency by saving time but also enhances the accuracy of results by utilising advanced data analysis tools. However, he also noted that AI opens new research possibilities, allowing scholars to explore questions and issues that were previously inaccessible just a few years ago.
Dr Mahmoud, a researcher specialising in cyber policy, warned about the drawbacks of over-relying on AI tools, such as technological dependence.
He explained that excessive use of AI can weaken researchers’ essential skills in analysis, critical thinking, and memory, leading to a generation with poorer academic performance. A recent study supports this, showing that students’ overuse of ChatGPT weakens memory and academic outcomes. Additionally, using AI in research writing raises ethical concerns, particularly around plagiarism and academic integrity, as AI-generated content can compromise the originality of research work. Algorithms may also reflect biases depending on how they’re programmed and trained.
Dr Khaled emphasised the need for clear policies and guidelines from academic institutions to regulate AI usage in research. These policies should ensure the ethical use of AI, provide training for students and researchers on responsible AI practices, and reinforce traditional skills like critical thinking and analysis. He also stressed the importance of academic integrity by banning AI-generated research without proper attribution. Furthermore, developing tools to detect AI-assisted plagiarism is crucial to maintaining the integrity of academic work. This approach would strike a balance between benefiting from AI’s potential and preserving academic standards and research skills, requiring educational institutions to implement appropriate regulations.
In turn, Dr Ammar Riyad, an academic specialising in AI and cybersecurity, highlighted AI’s promising potential to enhance education at all levels. AI allows teachers to tailor curricula to individual student needs and offer interactive learning experiences that increase student engagement. It can also help analyse student performance and provide personalised feedback, ultimately improving academic outcomes. Teachers can use AI to identify strengths and weaknesses in students, making education more targeted and effective.
However, Dr Ammar stressed that total reliance on AI in education could be problematic, as the learning process needs human interaction to foster communication skills and critical thinking, which might diminish with increased use of AI. Overuse could also reduce personal analysis and independence, as students may start depending on technology to find answers instead of thinking critically themselves. In research, while AI enhances the speed and accuracy of data collection and analysis, it risks producing similar results when researchers rely on the same tools. At a time where this might be useful in confirming hypotheses, it also could stifle creativity and limit diversity in academic work.
Dr Ammar stressed the importance of developing AI tools that offer diverse methods and encourage intellectual innovation. AI should complement, not replace, human interaction and critical thinking. It should enhance education and research, but with careful regulation to prevent over-dependence, especially in early education, where human engagement is key to developing students’ social and cognitive skills. In the field of research, using diverse analytical tools and methods is essential to avoid repetitive outcomes and biases, ensuring ongoing academic creativity and innovation.
