AI Use Contributes to Global Decline in Student Reading Skills, OECD Says

Live updates

1. 28d ago

   Global Student Reading Skills Decline as AI Use Rises, OECD Reports

   The OECD's PISA 2025 results show a continued decline in student performance across mathematics, reading, and science. The report links this decline to increased use of AI tools and digital devices for learning, which can create classroom distractions and bypass essential learning processes. Student reading scores have significantly dropped, raising concerns about their deep reading skills.

   Why it matters

   The PISA results have implications for educators and policymakers worldwide, highlighting the need to reassess the role of AI in education and its impact on student learning outcomes. The decline in reading skills is particularly concerning, as it can affect students' ability to engage with complex texts and think critically. The OECD's findings have sparked a renewed debate about the benefits and drawbacks of AI in education.

   What is confirmed

   • The OECD's PISA 2025 results show a continued decline in student performance across mathematics, reading, and science.
   • The report links this decline to increased use of AI tools and digital devices for learning, which can create classroom distractions and bypass essential learning processes.
   • Student reading scores have significantly dropped, raising concerns about their deep reading skills.
   • The OECD-average scores in PISA 2025 have reached their lowest levels so far.

   What to watch next

   • The implementation of new policies to address the impact of AI on student learning outcomes
   • Further research on the relationship between AI use and student performance
   • The development of new educational technologies to support deep reading skills
   Sources used for this update (14)

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   5. careeraheadonline.com — AI Use Rises, Deep Reading Skills Decline | Career Ahead Ana
   6. unherd.com — How to solve the debt crisis - UnHerd
   7. www.thetechedvocate.org — The Brutal Truth About AI and Reading: Why Top Students Are ...
   8. jawawa.id — Declining Academic Performance Among Students Linked to AI ...
   9. article.wn.com — Reading Scores Are Falling As AI Use Rises: Are Students ...
   10. internationalpublishers.org — Declining Literacy and Student Performance: Results from OECD PISA 2025 Are Concerning – International ....
   11. metropolitandigital.com — AI is making reading books feel obsolete – and students have ...
   12. jen.jiji.com — Drugs, impact of Glp-1 therapies: The Metabolic Frontier in Milan
   confidence 85%
2. 38d ago

   OECD Links AI Usage to Global Decline in Student Reading Skills

   Frequent chatbot use by students contributes to a worldwide drop in academic performance for 15-year-olds, according to the OECD. While the United States showed a slight rise in recent PISA rankings, this result reflects sharper declines in other nations rather than improved domestic education. The reliance on AI study aids and synthetic content bypasses essential learning processes and creates classroom distractions. Some critics argue the debate must move beyond whether students use AI to determine when they use it to maintain productive friction and build judgment.

   Why it matters

   The decline in independent thinking and memory aligns with the rise of AI search engines and video tools. These technologies risk eroding the fundamental capabilities required for academic literacy. The global slump highlights a tension between technological efficiency and cognitive development.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The AI education debate should shift from whether students use AI to when, to preserve productive friction and build literacy, judgment and capability.

   What to watch next

   • New PISA ranking data for member countries
   • OECD policy recommendations for AI integration in classrooms
   Sources used for this update (2)

   1. jen.jiji.com — From engineer to advisor: Building a world-class career in Kazakhstan
   2. uk.news.yahoo.com — The AI Education War Is Missing The Point
   confidence 80%
3. 42d ago

   AI Tools and Declining Reading Skills Link Highlighted by OECD

   Artificial intelligence tools like search engines, images, and videos are degrading human capacity for independent thinking, memory, and work. This trend aligns with OECD warnings that frequent chatbot use by students contributes to a global slump in 15-year-old academic performance. While the United States climbed slightly in recent PISA rankings, this shift stems primarily from steeper declines in competing nations rather than domestic educational gains. The widespread reliance on synthetic content and AI study aids creates severe classroom distractions and bypasses fundamental learning processes across member countries.

   Why it matters

   Global academic scores for 15-year-olds have hit historic lows across 91 countries since testing began 25 years ago. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development links part of this downward trend to artificial intelligence, noting that nearly half of member-nation students rely on chatbots weekly or more. In the United States, four out of five students utilize AI for schoolwork despite only six percent of schools maintaining clear usage policies.

   What is confirmed

   • Artificial intelligence-generated images, videos, and search tools compromise human abilities to work, remember, and think independently.
   • The United States improved its position in PISA test score rankings primarily because other nations performed worse.

   What to watch next

   • Further updates on international PISA rankings and country-specific educational policy responses to artificial intelligence.
   • Data regarding whether more school districts adopt clear policies governing student AI use for schoolwork.
   Sources used for this update (2)

   1. www.livemint.com — All that intelligence could be making us dumber
   2. news.lee.net — US moves up in PISA test score rankings because other countries are doing worse
   confidence 90%
4. 45d ago

   OECD Warns AI Accelerates Global Decline in Student Reading Skills

   Global academic performance for 15-year-olds has reached the weakest levels since testing began 25 years ago across 91 countries. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development attributes the downward trend partly to artificial intelligence use, warning that chatbots shortcut learning and create classroom distractions. Nearly half of students in member nations use AI chatbots weekly or more. In the United States, four in five students use AI for schoolwork, while only six percent of teachers say their school maintains a clear policy on the technology.

   Why it matters

   Global student performance has dropped significantly as academic scores hit alarming lows, with reading, math, and science affected. While high-school students in Asia continue to outperform Western peers, U.S. student scores have reached a two-point low over two decades alongside falling family interest in education. The rapid adoption of classroom technology without institutional guardrails creates severe challenges for educators.

   What is confirmed

   • The world's 15-year-olds are reading, calculating, and reasoning at the weakest levels recorded since global testing began 25 years ago across 91 countries.
   • Nearly half of students in OECD member countries use AI chatbots weekly or more to help them learn.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Four in five US students are using AI for schoolwork, according to Stanford's AI Index.
   • Half of schools have no policy regarding artificial intelligence use.
   • Only 6% of teachers say their school has a clear AI policy.
   • England bucked the global decline in reading while Wales fell behind.
   • The fastest adoption of educational AI is occurring outside the West.

   What to watch next

   • Implementation of formal AI policies by school districts
   • Further regional breakdowns of PISA educational metrics
   • OECD policy recommendations regarding classroom technology restrictions
   Sources used for this update (4)

   1. www.baltimoresun.com — Reading scores slide amid worries that artificial intelligence shortcuts learning
   2. www.yahoo.com — Across 91 countries, study says AI may be making an 'entire generation less capable'
   3. thenextweb.com — Only 6% of teachers say their school’s AI policy is clear
   4. theconversation.com — Pisa results: England bucks global decline in reading and Wales falls behind
   confidence 90%
5. 51d ago

   Global Student Reading Scores Drop in OECD Assessment

   Student academic performance on international exams has dropped across much of the developed world, with reading and math scores hitting alarming lows. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development attributes the global decline in student reading skills partly to artificial intelligence use, which officials warn is shortcutting learning and fueling digital distractions. Meanwhile, families show falling interest in children's education as scores fall. High-school students across Asia continue to pull ahead of Western peers in reading, science, and math, while U.S. student scores have reached their lowest point in two decades.

   Why it matters

   The newly released PISA 2025 results highlight a deepening global reading and math crisis affecting 15-year-olds in numerous countries. Kazakhstan achieved long-term science gains despite dropping math scores, though foundational skill challenges remain widespread in the region. As artificial intelligence reshapes how young people learn, the findings spark urgent debates about digital distractions and academic shortcuts.

   What is confirmed

   • The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development states that AI use contributes to the global decline in student reading skills.
   • U.S. student scores on the international test reached their lowest point in two decades.
   • PISA 2025 results published on September 8 put Kazakhstan's average scores at 420 points in science, 385 in reading and 414 in math.
   • Some 41.1% of Kazakhstani 15-year-olds performed below the baseline proficiency threshold in science, reading and math simultaneously.

   Still unconfirmed

   • AI use combined with training to assess its results can give test scores a boost.

   What to watch next

   • Further regional breakdowns and policy responses from education ministers regarding AI tools in schools
   • Additional data releases from the OECD PISA 2025 evaluation series
   Sources used for this update (14)

   1. baynews9.com — Tampa Bay-area blood donations rebound after summer decline, OneBlood says
   2. The New York Times — U.S. Reading Scores Plummet on Global Exam
   3. The Economist — Are teenagers growing dimmer?
   4. wsj.com — AI Use Contributes to Global Decline in Student Reading Skills, OECD Says
   5. dw.com — PISA test reveals alarming drop in reading and math skills
   6. The Washington Post — U.S. students’ scores on international test reach lowest point in 2 decades
   7. jen.jiji.com — Kazakhstan records long-term gains in science as math scores fall in PISA 2025
   8. NBC News — Families’ interest in their kids’ education is falling around the globe as scores drop, test shows
   9. www.theverge.com — Students who use AI generally score worse at school
   10. eualive.net — PISA: Global student performance falls as reading crisis deepens
   11. www.cnn.com — Asian teens race ahead of US peers for reading, science and math in global rankings
   12. cnycentral.com — Reading scores slide amid worries that AI is shortcutting learning
   confidence 90%