As schools prepare to reopen after the winter break, students are returning to classrooms equipped with rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These tools have become popular assistants for completing assignments, but their growing role in education has raised concerns among parents and educators.
AI tools like DeepSeek and Kimi allow students to handle schoolwork with just a few simple prompts. Tasks such as solving math problems, writing essays, and designing posters—common assignments in primary and secondary schools—can now be easily completed using generative AI.
Su Min, a 40-year-old mother of a sixth grader in Beijing, shared her experience with AI. “AI tools have saved me a lot of time tutoring my child,” she said. “I use AI to learn how to solve problems and then teach my daughter.” However, Su emphasized that her daughter does not use AI tools independently for schoolwork. “Simply copying AI-generated results isn’t helpful,” she added.
Chen Zhuo, a 16-year-old high school student from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, started using AI out of curiosity. “I used AI to create a framework for my essay and then refined it myself,” she said. “But I noticed the content lacked emotional depth and was disconnected from real-world events.” Chen also pointed out that while AI can lead to reliance, she avoids using it for math homework. “Copying answers from AI is pointless. I need to learn how to solve problems on my own,” she said.
On social media, parents are sharing their experiences of using AI to help their children with assignments, especially for tasks they consider less important. One user on the Chinese lifestyle app RedNote commented, “For a ninth grader with a tight schedule during winter break, AI tools are helpful for time-consuming tasks like simple writing or making posters that don’t significantly affect grades.”
While AI tools simplify schoolwork, some teachers are worried about their unauthorized use. They have noticed an increase in AI-generated content in students’ homework. Although universities have implemented strict guidelines for AI use in research and thesis writing, primary and secondary schools lack clear regulations.
In December, the Ministry of Education introduced guidelines to strengthen AI education in primary and secondary schools. The plan includes developing a systematic AI curriculum and expanding AI education nationwide by 2030.
To encourage responsible AI use, some schools are experimenting with integrating AI into assignments. For example, the affiliated primary school of Beijing No. 12 Middle School assigned an AI-related project during the winter break. Younger students created AI-assisted paintings of the Spring Festival, while older students used AI tools to write English research reports on the festival’s cultural influence and consumption trends.
Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, warned about the potential downsides of AI in education. “While AI is often promoted as a tool to enhance learning, its impact on children’s self-development could be harmful,” he said. “Relying on AI for knowledge acquisition can hinder the development of critical skills.”
Xiong stressed that uniquely human abilities, such as imagination and creativity, are becoming increasingly valuable as AI continues to evolve.
