AI and the Future of Homework: A Complete Guide for Parents

Artificial intelligence has quickly become part of our everyday lives. From the apps we use to the supermarket checkout line, AI is part of nearly every automated process. In many ways, its capabilities have turned complex tasks into something far simpler. However, programs like ChatGPT, Deep AI, Claude, Gemini, and others draw a thin line between “enough” and “too much.”

As the work becomes easier, many wonder about the ethical implications. Is the education system in trouble when it comes to schools and the necessary homework? Are students more inclined to seek answers from artificial intelligence? And does it pose a risk to educators and their curricula?

We spoke with two education experts in the field to find the answers. Here's what they had to say to concerned parents, and about the future of AI in school systems.

How AI Can Be (Surprisingly) Beneficial

Mandi St. Germaine, with 16 years of experience as an Elementary Curriculum Coach, believes AI should be used purposefully. After watching how it's already shifted the educational system, she says it's helpful to build on prior knowledge.

“AI definitely has revolutionized the way students do and present their work. Students are using AI as an essay writer and to get context for more difficult subjects,” she says. “Students now have technology that can influence their critical thinking. It can be used in early childhood education to help establish a background of digital literacy early on.”

This forward-thinking was found in roughly 6% of educators polled by Pew Research in 2024. Another 32% stated they believe it's equal parts good and harmful to the education system. As of April 2024, approximately 18% of teachers incorporated AI into their curricula, according to K-12 Dive.

Whether or not it will remain optional, however, remains to be seen. Rand-CRPE findings revealed that 60% of public school systems plan to train teachers on the use of AI in classrooms. This would make AI a widespread tool in school systems. The biggest question is this: how can it be helpful without crippling critical thinking skills?

Using AI to a Student's Advantage

“There is a very big difference between AI providing assistance to a student in learning, i.e., brainstorming or word acquisition, and thinking for them. Parents and educators must assist in modeling and teaching how to appropriately and safely utilize it,” says St. Germaine.

She adds that AI has been part of her education career, as well. “I have used AI myself to assist with planning instruction and professional growth. It would also be useful for visually or hearing-impaired students to access instruction. AI can aid in increasing differentiation and accessibility.”

St. Germaine makes it clear that AI is never a substitute for learning, but can be a powerful tool when monitored. “Take it as a learning opportunity. It is a chance for parents and teachers to sit down with the child and talk about responsibility on the internet and make sure they get what is and is not acceptable,” she explains. “Bringing awareness at this time is invaluable.”

Chatbots like ChatGPT might be pushing boundaries, but she adds that programs like GoGuardian can help monitor misuse. This software offers an educational database for research with safety features in mind. It also provides access to mental health resources for K-12 students.

When it comes to AI, St. Germaine believes that conscious monitoring and proper safety measures are key. “Any form of artificial intelligence software that can potentially generate entire essays or assignments without the work of the student has to be a cause for alarm. It is not so much about blocking the tools as monitoring their utilization and teaching prudence,” she says.

“AI will absolutely reshape how schoolwork is done and how children learn. As a coach, I’m already planning professional development for the upcoming school year to introduce ethical and effective AI use in instruction,” St. Germaine shares with us. “The key is not resisting the technology but preparing students to use it as a thinking partner.”

Knowing Where To Draw The Line (and How)

We also spoke with award-winning educator Dr. Geillan Aly, founder and CEO of Compassionate Math. She offered unique insights into AI and its potential impact on the future of education. She shares with us a surprising danger of depending on ChatGPT for homework and projects.

“Currently, since current GPTs are rife with inaccuracies, I would be concerned that a student will not know if the information they get from AI is correct,” she says. “For now, I would use AI for low-level tasks such as checking work — grammar, calculations, or helping students brainstorm ideas.”

Elaborating on this, Aly explains that any tool can be used to help or hurt a student. In 2024, the Digital Education Council released a study revealing that 86% of college students use AI in their studies. Of those, 24% of students admitted to using AI daily. Parents now have concerns that this will foreshadow students in grades K-12.

“The big question is: will the child walk away having learned after using this tool? This is a hard question to answer, but the way to know for sure is if the child can do the work on their own without the help of this tool. That may be the most important test,” says Aly.

“If a child used AI to help them learn how to structure an argument, but then can write an essay on their own without AI, then I wouldn't have a problem with this. The concern lies in that AI makes things so easy — bypassing a lot of steps that are necessary for learning — that I don't think most students will use AI carefully and in a way that they are helped, rather than harmed by its use.”

Making this distinction could be the answer parents are searching for regarding regular AI usage. However, that still doesn't counteract the adverse effects AI may have on the critical thinking skills that Aly references.

AI and Its Effect on Learning Information

When asked how AI affects how a student absorbs information, Aly encourages out-of-the-box thinking. “Cognitive scientists very much understand how we, as humans, learn. This will not change; children will continue to learn and absorb information by being exposed to new ideas, connecting them with other ideas, and learning how to apply these ideas in creative ways to solve problems. However, the question is how AI will be used to support or undermine this process,” she says.

Aly elaborates, saying that AI can do things like create problem sets or help someone brainstorm an idea. As long as the information is correct, this can help shape or outline a learning path.

“Using AI like this may help someone push their thinking to greater depths. The way AI will really help students is if we can personalize assignments by diagnosing and addressing each student's needs. However, I don't think we're quite there yet,” Aly explains.

With that being said, Aly also has concerns about AI, as not all uses are created equally. “My biggest concern for current students is that there will be a gap between those students who use AI in their education and those who don't,” she says.

“Those who do not use AI may take longer to be successful, but they will develop a comfort with the discomfort of not knowing, and will have experience in working through that discomfort.” She states these students may not be able to turn in work quickly, and it may be of lower quality.

However, they may have a more comprehensive understanding because they developed a topic from the ground up. “Over time, I suspect that those who use AI as a supportive tool, or not at all, will actually be the ones to surpass those who do rely on AI to carry the intellectual burden,” she says. This leans in favor of supportive AI, rather than substantial dependence on a computer's intelligence.

Educators agree that AI should be used in moderation. Leaning into artificial intelligence to guide a topic, rather than filling gaps in a child's basic knowledge, is key. The battle lies in keeping your child from relying solely on AI to take the place of logic and thinking.

However, even if these rules are established, some educators may have harsher consequences than others. Aly weighed in on what to do in this scenario and how to handle it as a parent.

What to Do If Your Child Is Accused of Using AI

The only thing scarier than too much AI is your child being accused of entirely relying on it. To combat this, Aly shared some advice from an educator's perspective.

“I once had a student turn work in that I suspected wasn't their own. To determine whether they did their own work, I asked them to come to my office,” she tells us.

“While there, I gave them a vocabulary test, asking them to define words used in their essay. I also asked them to tell me the general argument in their work and how they decided to structure the paper that they did. Essentially, I gave them an oral exam based on the work they submitted to see if they indeed did their own work.”

As long as your child is using AI to support and not supplement, this should be an easy conversation. Your child should be familiar enough with the subject of their homework or project to speak confidently. Aly explains this further, adding that parents shouldn't be afraid of meeting with teachers to discuss this.

“If the child can answer questions about the work to the teacher's satisfaction, then it shows that the work created is the child's own,” she explains. “One becomes articulate as they learn about or immerse themselves in a topic. Speaking well about a topic shows you've mastered it and is a great way to demonstrate that your work is your own.”

Aly adds that oral examinations could be a way to assess students' knowledge as AI becomes more prevalent.

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