# Student Perspectives on the Benefits and Risks of AI in Education

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.02198 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.02198/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 4 of its 35 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 4 May 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [Programming Is Hard -- Or at Least It Used to Be: Educational Opportunities And Challenges of AI Code Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.01020/) (2022)
- [Unveiling Security, Privacy, and Ethical Concerns of ChatGPT](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.14192/) (2023)
- [Towards Applying Powerful Large AI Models in Classroom Teaching: Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.03433/) (2023)
- [Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Education: Benefits, Challenges and Strategies of Implementation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.09365/) (2021)

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [Students' Reliance on AI in Higher Education: Identifying Contributing Factors](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.13845/) (2025)
- [Understanding Human-AI Trust in Education](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.09160/) (2025)
- [Trust and Reliance on AI in Education: AI Literacy and Need for Cognition as Moderators](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.01114/) (2026)
- [What Drives Students' Use of AI Chatbots? Technology Acceptance in Conversational AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.20547/) (2026)
- [Retrieval-Augmented Tutoring for Algorithm Tracing and Problem-Solving in AI Education](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.12988/) (2026)
- [Designing and Evaluating Chain-of-Hints for Scientific Question Answering](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.21087/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The use of chatbots equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings has increased in recent years, showing potential to support teaching and learning. However, the adoption of these technologies has raised concerns about their impact on academic integrity, students' ability to problem-solve independently, and potential underlying biases. To better understand students' perspectives and experiences with these tools, a survey was conducted at a large public university in the United States. Through thematic analysis, 262 undergraduate students' responses regarding their perceived benefits and risks of AI chatbots in education were identified and categorized into themes. The results discuss several benefits identified by the students, with feedback and study support, instruction capabilities, and access to information being the most cited. Their primary concerns included risks to academic integrity, accuracy of information, loss of critical thinking skills, the potential development of overreliance, and ethical considerations such as data privacy, system bias, environmental impact, and preservation of human elements in education. While student perceptions align with previously discussed benefits and risks of AI in education, they show heightened concerns about distinguishing between human and AI generated work - particularly in cases where authentic work is flagged as AI-generated. To address students' concerns, institutions can establish clear policies regarding AI use and develop curriculum around AI literacy. With these in place, practitioners can effectively develop and implement educational systems that leverage AI's potential in areas such as immediate feedback and personalized learning support. This approach can enhance the quality of students' educational experiences while preserving the integrity of the learning process with AI.