74% of Airlangga University Statistics Students Admit AI Addiction
Artificial intelligence has transformed from a mere tool into a ‘digital bookworm’ for university students. A recent study has uncovered the startling fact that 74 per cent of Statistics students at Airlangga University from the 2023-2025 cohorts admit to being dependent on AI to complete project assignments.
The research, using a systematic random sampling method on 119 students, revealed that 74 per cent of students showed a dependency on AI, with a margin of error of just 6.44 per cent, indicating high accuracy. The 10 statements in the questionnaire were declared valid and reliable, with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.841. This is not just a trend but a worrying phenomenon. The majority of students admitted to immediately searching for answers via AI rather than understanding the material first.
The study identified several patterns of academic addiction. AI has become the primary reference source when starting assignments. Students are losing self-confidence and beginning to doubt their ability to complete tasks without AI. Tasks are completed quickly, but the material is not mastered. AI is used in data processing and statistical analysis, as well as in compiling reports and presentations through to the final stages.
Prof. Chakraborty, in a 2026 study, warned that within the Education 5.0 paradigm, AI should be a collaborative partner for humans, not a replacement. Yet the reality on the ground is the opposite. In the past, students struggled to understand concepts. Now, they simply ask AI. The result is fast, but meaningless.
The distribution of the 119 respondents was 68.9 per cent female and 31.1 per cent male, with 32.8 per cent from the 2023 cohort, 32.8 per cent from the 2024 cohort, and 34.4 per cent from the 2025 cohort. This even distribution shows the phenomenon has spread across academic years.
The researchers recommend not banning AI, but limiting its use. They suggest using AI in the early stages to search for references, not for direct answers, and training independence by gradually completing tasks without AI to strengthen self-reliant understanding. This finding serves as an alarm for higher education, as excessive dependence on AI has the potential to damage critical thinking skills, creativity, and learning independence.