OECD PISA 2025 report links daily AI use to lower science scores

The OECD has released the results of its largest-ever PISA assessment, involving over 760,000 students across 91 countries and regions. The study highlights a significant correlation between frequent AI use and declining academic performance in science. Students who use generative AI for homework daily scored, on average, 28 points lower in science than those who rarely use it—a gap equivalent to approximately one and a half years of instruction.

Experts describe this phenomenon as ‘cognitive offloading,’ where students outsource difficult mental tasks to AI, bypassing the critical struggle required for true learning. Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills, noted that AI should act as a ‘scaffold’ to support learning rather than a ‘crutch’ that replaces the need for thought.

However, the data suggests that moderate use may be beneficial. Students who use AI approximately once a week to ‘help them learn’ achieved the highest average scores, suggesting a ‘U-shaped’ relationship where excessive use is detrimental but occasional, guided use can be effective. The report also notes that students who receive training to evaluate the accuracy of AI-generated content show improved science scores.