As South Korean universities grapple with the fallout from student cheating scandals involving the use of AI, a new concern is emerging in Seoul's elementary schools: an increasing number of elementary school students are "outsourcing" their homework and project - related thinking processes to AI tools.

Teachers have observed that students have developed an instinctive habit of turning to AI whenever they encounter research or reasoning - based tasks. Some students even go as far as directly using AI - generated technical jargon in debates. This behavior robs them of precious opportunities to think independently and develop their own ideas.

Students themselves acknowledge that AI has seamlessly integrated into their campus lives. They use it for a variety of purposes, such as resolving disputes among peers, crafting campaign speeches for student council elections, and more.

Parents are deeply concerned that their children may develop a cognitive dependence on AI. Meanwhile, experts are sounding the alarm, warning that over - reliance on AI could potentially undermine students' reasoning and critical thinking skills. They are urging schools to take prompt regulatory action to address this issue.