CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – As summer kicks off, Clayborne CEO and WINA education analyst Lee Elberson joined Morning News to discuss how students are turning to artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT for schoolwork. While many assume academic pressure eases in the summer, Elberson noted, “College admissions prep is huge during the summer because students have such a busy schedule during the school year.” 

The conversation shifted toward growing concerns over students’ reliance on AI and its impact on critical thinking. Elberson acknowledged both the pros and cons, explaining, “It can be used as a useful tool if students display critical thinking before prompting the AI.” He suggested students ask ChatGPT to challenge their own work or explain concepts to reinforce understanding, likening it to having a digital teaching assistant. 

However, Elberson also warned against overdependence: “If you haven’t developed your own expertise, you won’t know if the answer is right… and so you only do that by independently studying.” He encouraged balanced use, especially over the summer, emphasizing that AI can enhance learning when used to prompt curiosity rather than replace effort. 

Listen to the full conversation here: