When it comes to using AI for schoolwork, think of it like a car.
It can move you forward in your learning like never before.
It can be the flashiest model or have the coolest features. But none of that matters unless you're a skilled driver who knows where you're going and how you'll get there.
If you sit back as a passenger and let AI take the wheel, you might reach your destination without ever really learning how to drive.
Let’s explore what it means to be a driver or a passenger when using AI for school, why it matters, and how it impacts you.
Riding the AI Wave
Before we dive deeper into being a passenger or a driver with AI, let's zoom out for a moment.
With more and more students using AI for schoolwork, researchers are racing to understand what it means for learning.
In a nutshell, here's what we know so far.
The Good
On the one hand, AI can boost your learning like never before. A 2024 study found that students using AI can experience:
Higher motivation to learn
Better problem-solving skills
Improved understanding of concepts
The Bad
On the other hand, relying too much on AI can weaken students' academic development, including concerns like:
Getting incorrect information from AI
Developing poorer thinking skills
Remembering less information
No matter where you fall in the "Is AI good vs. bad?" debate, one thing is clear: AI is here to stay.
The conversation is swiftly shifting from if students should use AI to how they should use it. Because the truth is, if you're not intentional about how you're using AI, you're already at risk of getting left behind.
So what's your approach to riding the AI wave?
Are you going to sit back as a passenger and let AI take the wheel?
Or are you going to sit in the driver's seat and direct your journey?
Driver vs. Passenger
Imagine this...
A professor assigns his class an essay and tells students that they’re welcome to use AI for support. The class is excited — this is the first time he's allowed this!
Take a look at how two students, Paige and Dorian, approach their essays.
Paige the Passenger
Paige turns to ChatGPT to write the first draft of her essay.
She moves some sentences around and inserts keywords from her class notes.
She purposely includes a few minor grammatical errors to make it seem more "human."
What's happening here?
Paige doesn’t actively engage with ideas, fact-check information, or direct the essay. She trusts ChatGPT to take charge; she's just along for the ride.
In other words:
A passenger plays the AI game in "lazy mode." 
This could mean:
"Passive" learning
Low engagement with the material
Weaker ability to analyze and remember information
Less creativity
Low self-trust and confidence
Dorian the Driver
Dorian reviews their class notes to create a rough outline for their essay.
They use ChatGPT as a thought partner to refine the flow.
They write their essay, at times asking ChatGPT to proofread and provide feedback.
What's happening here?
Dorian takes control of their learning. They direct their own thinking as they write the essay. They use ChatGPT as a thought partner and tool to enhance their learning.
In other words:
A driver plays the AI game in "genius mode." 
This could mean:
"Active" learning
High engagement with the material
Stronger ability to analyze and remember information
Improved creativity
Boosted self-trust and confidence
Test Your Understanding
The next week in class, the professor hands back all the students' essays. It turns out both Paige and Dorian got As!
But wait a minute...
The professor makes an announcement:
Alright, everyone! We're doing Pop Presentations for extra credit today! Each of you will have a few minutes toshare 2 key takeaways from your essays and explain how you used AI to deepen your learning. We'll start in 5 minutes. Use this time to revisit your papers and prepare your talking points.
Let's see how Paige and Dorian prepare.
What's Paige Thinking?
What might be running through Paige's mind as she prepares?
A. Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy! I'm sure I can handle any follow-up questions.
B. Wait...what's the source for this?! I don't think this number is right!
C. Can I say that ChatGPT basically gave me...all of it?
D. I'm not sure I can explain this point without reading it out...
Quiz
Select any thoughts that could be running through Paige's mind:
What's Dorian thinking?
What might be running through Dorian's mind as they prepare?
A. Hey, the discussion from today's class supports this point!
B. I can show them my "before" and "after" outlines to explain how I used AI.
C. I hope no one asks me any questions. I wouldn't have a clue how to answer.
D. It was really cool how this idea developed through my debate with ChatGPT.
Quiz
Select any thoughts that could be running through Dorian's mind:
Take the Wheel
Check out these tips on how to use AI as a powerful tool while YOU take the wheel.
Think about different roles that AI could play in your studies:
Your Brainstorm Buddy
Use AI to help you think through ideas, analyze themes, or suggest different ways to approach an outline or study plan.
It could spark inspiration and help you with big-picture thinking (or "blue-sky" thinking), but let your unique perspective guide your final direction!
Your Study Partner
Use AI as a study partner that can help you gather, summarize, and organize information.
But remember, you're still the lead. You'll need to check the work, ensure the information is correct, and make the final call on how you'll use it.
Your Devil's Advocate
Extend your learning by having AI debate you, find gaps in your arguments, and suggest points of view that you haven't considered.
Doing this can help you widen your perspective and boost your thinking.
Your Writing Coach
Use AI to refine your writing, not replace it. You may want help with polishing your grammar, tone, and punctuation, but remember to hold on to your originality and creativity.
Aim to remember and practice what you learn from your "writing coach" so YOU can apply it in the future without help.
When in doubt, ask yourself:
Take Action
AI is like a car — fast, powerful, and full of exciting features. It can help you reach your destination quickly and navigate winding roads smoothly.
But when it comes to using AI for school, choosing whether to be a passenger or a driver makes all the difference for your learning and development.
So go on...take charge and drive ahead in this wild, new, AI-powered world.
The next time you use AI for school support, ask yourself:
Your feedback matters to us.
This Byte helped me better understand the topic.