AI Usage in Education and Mitigation of Abilities: Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking and Creativity among University Students

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming prominent in education, providing personalized learning, feedback, and administrative support. However, questions have been raised about the impact of this technology on the development of essential competencies such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity among university students. Although AI can enhance teaching and engagement, it may also undermine human interaction and critical thinking skills. Emphasising the use of AI for writing, problem-solving, and idea generation can hinder students' development in these areas. To mitigate these effects, educators must find ways to balance the benefits of AI with traditional learning approaches. This study aims to explore the effects of AI on students' abilities related to the 4Cs. A quantitative research approach and descriptive design were adopted, using a questionnaire as the study’s main tool. The study population was comprised of students from public sector universities across Punjab. And the random sampling technique was used to select the sample and it was consisted of 200 students from the different departments of Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Sargodha. The results indicated that AI usage in education was significantly reducing students' cognitive abilities. It was recommended that AI use should be carefully monitored to support students' cognitive development.