Schools ban AI like ChatGPT fearing it's a tool for cheating, but this is profoundly shortsighted. The quality of an AI's output is entirely dependent on the critical thinking behind the user's input. This makes AI the first truly scalable tool for teaching children how to think critically, a skill far more valuable than memorization.

The "generative" label on AI is misleading. Its true power for daily knowledge work lies not in creating artifacts, but in its superhuman ability to read, comprehend, and synthesize vast amounts of information—a far more frequent and fundamental task than writing.

Using generative AI to produce work bypasses the reflection and effort required to build strong knowledge networks. This outsourcing of thinking leads to poor retention and a diminished ability to evaluate the quality of AI-generated output, mirroring historical data on how calculators impacted math skills.

New features in Google's Notebook LM, like generating quizzes and open-ended questions from user notes, represent a significant evolution for AI in education. Instead of just providing answers, the tool is designed to teach the problem-solving process itself. This fosters deeper understanding, a critical capability that many educational institutions are overlooking.

Contrary to the focus on professional use cases, OpenAI's largest study shows that 46% of messages from adult consumer users are from the 18-25 age group. This indicates the emergence of an "AI native" generation whose approach to work and education will be fundamentally different.

ASU's president argues that if an AI can answer an assignment, the assignment has failed. The educator's role must evolve to use AI to 'up the game,' forcing students to ask more sophisticated questions, making the quality of the query—not the synthesized answer—the hallmark of learning.

Despite the hype around AI's coding prowess, an OpenAI study reveals it is a niche activity on consumer plans, accounting for only 4% of messages. The vast majority of usage is for more practical, everyday guidance like writing help, information seeking, and general advice.

Instead of policing AI use, a novel strategy is for teachers to show students what AI produces on an assignment and grade it as a 'B-'. This sets a clear baseline, reframing AI as a starting point and challenging students to use human creativity and critical thinking to achieve a higher grade.

Generative AI's appeal highlights a systemic issue in education. When grades—impacting financial aid and job prospects—are tied solely to finished products, students rationally use tools that shortcut the learning process to achieve the desired outcome under immense pressure from other life stressors.