"Teach me", not "solve for me": how your children should use AI

"Does AI make children's brains degenerate?" is likely the most common question parents have asked since chatbots entered our lives and schools. The honest answer is that research hasn't reached a final verdict yet, which is expected at the start of a technological revolution. However, the data is already clear enough to provide recommendations for home use.

What do the studies actually show?

In an MIT Media Lab experiment titled "Your Brain on ChatGPT," 54 participants wrote essays with the help of AI, search engines, or no assistance. Those using language models showed the weakest brain connectivity, a phenomenon researchers termed "cognitive debt." It is important to note that the sample size was small and the participants were students, not children.

Another study by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University found that while reliance on AI answers can diminish critical thinking, those who were required to verify information showed improved critical thinking skills. The takeaway for parents: critical thinking hasn't disappeared; it has shifted from gathering information to verifying it. This is the skill children need to learn today.

AI as an effective tutor

A Harvard study (June 2025) demonstrated that physics students using a specially designed AI tutor learned twice as much material in less time. The crucial factor was the pedagogical instructions built into the tool. Similarly, a World Bank program in Nigeria showed that students using GPT-4-powered Copilot, with a human teacher present, achieved progress equivalent to 1.5–2 years of regular schooling.

The button that changes everything

The difference between a "homework machine" and a private tutor isn't the tool itself, but the mode of operation. ChatGPT features a "Study Mode" that, instead of providing direct answers, asks questions and breaks down concepts based on the student's level.

How to set it up:

Go to Profile -> Settings -> Parental controls.
Add your child via email or phone number.
Activate Study Mode in the settings.

Similar features exist in Gemini (Guided Learning) and Khanmigo.

Tips for parents

Lower the anxiety: Children will encounter AI regardless of your stance. It is better they do so with your guidance.
Be present: Sit with your child during their first sessions. Let them type the prompts themselves—this teaches them how to formulate questions.
The home test: Ask your child to explain in their own words what they "solved" using AI. If they can't, return to the conversation and ask the AI to explain the topic from a different angle.

The golden rule: teach your child to ask "teach me how to solve this" instead of "solve this for me." That one phrase changes the entire equation.

Eyal Marcus is an AI lecturer and consultant.