The AI Tipping Point: 92% of Students are using AI

The 2025 Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) surveyed 1,041 full-time undergraduates, and it revealed a seismic shift in education: generative AI tools are now firmly embedded in student life.

Key Insights: Students’ Use of AI Is Soaring

According to the report, 92% of students have used at least one AI tool—up from 66% in 2024. Here’s how AI use has evolved from 2024 to 2025:

Takeaway: AI is here to stay and will likely be more prominent in student lives.

Why Students Use AI

When students were asked why they use AI:

• 51% said “to save time.”

• 50% said “to improve the quality of work.”

• 40% said “to get instant support.”

• 32% said “to get personalized support.”

Takeaway: AI isn’t just about convenience—it’s about efficiency and better learning outcomes. Students are using AI as a helper, not just a shortcut.

The Concern: Are Students Still Learning?

As teachers and parents, we’ve seen many ways students try to cheat.

• 20 years ago, kids copied off each other’s papers.

• 10 years ago, they sent pictures of homework answers on their phones.

• Now, they can simply ask ChatGPT to write their whole essay.

It’s easy to worry that AI will rob students of the chance to think critically and learn deeply. When AI can do so much, how do we make sure students are still developing real skills?

The Realistic Future: AI Isn’t the Enemy

We’ve seen this story before—with calculators, the internet, and smartphones.Technology doesn’t make students “dumber.” It changes how they think.

As a tutor, I’ve seen students with poor math or handwriting skills, but I’ve also seen them use technology to learn faster and find creative solutions. Yes, some high schoolers still struggle with multiplication tables— but those students don't want to go into a math field. Those who go into math-heavy fields know math just as much if not more than any other kids throughout the last 30 years. The main difference is: math kids today know how to use calculators and technology to their advantage.

AI is following the same pattern. It’s not going away—it’s becoming part of daily learning.

What Tutors and Parents Should Focus On

If we teach students how to use AI correctly, they’ll be better prepared for the future. Most AI tools—like YouTube subtitles, Google Translate, Grammarly, or photo editing software— are very useful and can enhance learning when used responsibly.

The real danger isn’t the tool—it’s misuse. Some students will copy and paste ChatGPT answers without understanding them. But others will use AI to explore, create, and learn more deeply.

We need to teach students how to use AI, and how to use it responsibly. The alternative is a generation that grows up not knowing how to use the very tools shaping the modern world.

Thirty years from now, a child who can’t use AI may be as limited as someone today who can’t type or use the internet.

AI literacy is the new digital literacy.