Ayesha Khanna warns AI reliance in schools impairs critical thinking

Technology expert Dr. Ayesha Khanna has issued a stern warning regarding the growing integration of artificial intelligence in educational settings, cautioning that it could fundamentally undermine students' critical thinking capabilities. Speaking at the "IMF Inspired" session during the 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Dr. Khanna emphasized that the convenience of AI tools often comes at a significant cost to the cognitive development of young learners. She argued that the educational sector must find a balance between technological adoption and the preservation of fundamental human intellectual skills.

The core of the concern lies in how students utilize AI to complete academic work. According to Dr. Khanna, when students rely heavily on these technologies for school assignments, they risk losing the ability to engage deeply with their subjects. This dependency can lead to a failure in knowledge retention, as the process of researching, synthesizing, and writing—which traditionally solidifies learning—is outsourced to an algorithm. She noted that without the struggle of original thought, the brain’s ability to process and remember information is effectively bypassed.

Beyond simple memorization, Dr. Khanna highlighted the long-term danger to the development of independent thought. She argued that students who depend on AI are likely to struggle when asked to formulate independent arguments or challenge existing ideas. The tendency for AI to provide polished, pre-packaged answers discourages the trial-and-error process necessary for intellectual growth. As a result, the next generation of professionals may find themselves ill-equipped to handle complex, nuanced problems that require human intuition and original analysis, posing a broader challenge for future workforces.