Students' use of artificial intelligence for schoolwork outpaced guidance on using it, with 79% of those surveyed reporting use for homework or assignments, OpenAI said, citing new ThinkYoung research.
Only 47% said they had been shown how to use AI, a gap of 32 percentage points. OpenAI, which develops AI tools, published the findings on Nov. 10 in “Closing the AI guidance gap in education.”
The ThinkYoung research examined how teachers and students already use AI. OpenAI did not give the survey dates, sample size or geographic coverage, limiting the information available to assess how broadly the results apply.
OpenAI also drew on its education partnerships in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including work with governments and education systems in Estonia, Slovakia, Greece and Italy. Those experiences offered early lessons rather than a single approach that all education systems could follow.
Governments need to help educators establish rules for AI use and give students clearer expectations, OpenAI said. It argued that wider access to AI increases the importance of teachers' judgement and their ability to guide learning, making teacher preparation a priority.
The company said its partnerships pursue three aims: access to advanced AI tools on equal terms, jointly developed programmes teaching people how to understand and use AI, and continuing evaluation. Partners adapt that work to local languages, curricula and institutions.
Experiences in Estonia, Greece and Slovakia pointed to the value of clear direction from public authorities, investment in teachers' skills and confidence, and practical classroom support, OpenAI said. That support should fit local curricula and teaching needs, although countries would introduce AI differently.
Teacher adoption and reported time savings offered encouraging early signs, the company said. But determining whether AI improves knowledge, independent thinking and the ability to remember what students learn requires evaluation over time. OpenAI said the country findings reflect particular circumstances and partnership arrangements and should be interpreted within those limits.
Surveys, programme monitoring and consultation help identify participants' experiences and the obstacles they face, OpenAI said. Its account did not provide figures for teachers' adoption or time savings, or measurements showing improvements in student learning.
The company said it is bringing education researchers together through its OpenAI Learning Lab to study when and how AI can help education systems. It has a responsibility to contribute evidence and learn from findings, including results that challenge its assumptions.
