Risk of "intellectual laziness" amid AI-driven educational transformation

Beijing — A Chinese political advisor stated on Wednesday (11 March) that students must be guided to use artificial intelligence (AI) rationally and avoid “intellectual laziness” as AI transforms education and the role of teachers.

Xu Kun, president of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT), said that AI is a double-edged sword that requires commitment to the principle of “technology for good”.

Speaking to reporters during the annual meeting of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Xu outlined how AI is reshaping the learning process by going beyond standard teaching methods to accommodate individual student progress.

“From a teaching perspective, AI is reshaping the role of teachers,” said Xu, adding that the technology frees educators from repetitive tasks and enables them to focus more on fostering student creativity and curiosity.

Xu described AI as a catalyst accelerating educational reform, envisioning a future learning environment that is open, data-driven, and integrated with real-world situations. According to him, this will break down geographical barriers and make quality education accessible to all students.

However, he stressed that whilst leveraging AI’s potential, strengthening ethics education is essential. “We must guide students to use AI appropriately and adequately, and avoid intellectual laziness,” he said.