Sridhar Vembu has an AI warning for high school students

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu cautioned that AI tools risk making students overly dependent rather than fostering genuine learning. His remarks followed a 2025 study published in *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)*, which examined how high school students performed in mathematics when using AI. The study, led by Hamsa Bastani and her team at the Wharton School, involved nearly 1,000 students in Turkey. Participants were divided into three groups: one using a standard GPT-4 chatbot for direct answers, another with an AI tutor offering hints, and a third studying without AI. During practice, AI-assisted groups solved significantly more questions—48% more in the GPT group and 127% more in the tutor-style group—but their exam scores without AI dropped 17% compared to students who practiced independently. Vembu highlighted the findings on X, stating AI acts as a 'crutch' rather than a 'training wheel,' preventing students from developing critical thinking. The study also revealed that students most reliant on AI often overestimated their understanding, despite poorer performance in actual tests. While concerns about overdependence grow, AI integration in education is expanding. Google’s Gemini AI now offers JEE Main mock tests, generating practice exams and analyzing performance based on question banks from platforms like PhysicsWallah and Careers360. Meanwhile, tech companies like Meta and Google are pushing AI adoption in workplaces for tasks like coding and research. Vembu previously identified careers less vulnerable to AI, suggesting meaningful work remains essential. His warning underscores broader debates on whether AI enhances learning or creates false progress.