NPR/Ipsos Poll Finds Most Teachers See AI Outpacing Internet, as 57% Fear Critical Thinking Erosion
Updated
Updated · NPR · Jun 5
NPR/Ipsos Poll Finds Most Teachers See AI Outpacing Internet, as 57% Fear Critical Thinking Erosion
3 articles · Updated · NPR · Jun 5
Summary
Most teachers in a new NPR/Ipsos poll said AI will have a bigger impact on education than the internet or computers, marking a sharp shift in how educators view the technology.
Many respondents are already using AI to save time and improve lesson materials, suggesting adoption is being driven by practical classroom and workload benefits.
Still, 57% said they are concerned AI will hurt students' critical thinking, highlighting a tension between teachers' own use of the tools and worries about student dependence.
That split points to AI becoming a central education issue not just as a productivity aid for teachers, but as a force likely to reshape how students learn.
Is classroom AI sacrificing students' critical thinking skills for the promise of efficiency?
With most students using AI, who is responsible for teaching them to use it ethically?
The AI Paradox in Education: How Rising Concerns Over Critical Thinking Are Reshaping K-12 Policy and Practice (2025-2026)
Overview
Between 2025 and 2026, AI tools became much more common in schools, leading to a sharp rise in concern among both teachers and students. While students are using AI more than ever, many worry that it could harm their critical thinking and affect society’s future. Teachers’ anxiety about AI’s impact has grown, with over half now very concerned, and this worry is even higher than that of parents or the general public. This shared apprehension highlights a complex situation: as AI use increases in education, so do fears about its long-term effects on learning and development.