Exploratory qualitative research reveals mixed effects of generative AI on critical thinking in high school students, suggesting the need for balanced use.
Generative AI has seen an explosive rise in its usage since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (McKendrick, 2021), especially in the field of education. However, its impact in a high school setting, especially its usage amongst high school students, is an under-researched area. In this paper, we conducted exploratory qualitative research with high school students to explore how students use generative AI. Through the use of thematic analysis, we see both the positive and negative impacts of AI amongst high school students. Our findings denote that while generative AI saves time and assists in the initial brainstorming, it also encourages complacency in the learning process, especially in developing critical thinking skills among young adults. Through this paper, we identify future research directions of generative AI and the practical implications for its use among young adults.
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Agarwal et al. (2025) studied this question.
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