AI integration raises concerns over learning depth and social inequality

New research and industry perspectives highlight the complex societal impacts of artificial intelligence on education, the workforce, and social equity.

Raghav Gupta, Head of Education for Asia-Pacific at OpenAI, warns that while AI tools increase productivity, they may hinder deep learning if students use them to bypass the “productive struggle” necessary for skill acquisition. A survey of 500 university students in Singapore found that 94% use AI weekly, with 88% expressing interest in building AI-driven products before graduation. This cohort expects workplaces to provide substantial opportunities to use AI rather than just using it to accelerate existing tasks.

Simultaneously, a study by Singapore Management University and Duke-NUS Medical School published in Nature Human Behaviour examines the risks of AI companions. The researchers argue that the focus should shift from whether AI is beneficial to how it might deepen social inequality. The study suggests that without deliberate safeguards in design and governance, AI companions may disproportionately benefit certain groups while leaving those in need of human support more vulnerable to harm.