Is Artificial Intelligence Suppressing or Enhancing Youth’s Critical Thinking Skills?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, education, and daily life, raising questions about its impact on critical thinking. While AI offers opportunities for efficiency and innovation, concerns persist about its potential to diminish problem-solving skills if over-relied upon. This policy brief explored whether AI enhances or suppresses young people’s ability to think critically, examining both its benefits and challenges. The X Space conversation highlighted AI’s role in driving economic growth, expanding job opportunities, and revolutionizing education.

Speakers emphasized the need to integrate AI into the curriculum to equip young people with future-ready skills while ensuring digital inclusion. However, concerns were raised about overdependence on AI, which could weaken analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Ethical issues such as job displacement, data security, and accessibility for marginalized groups were also discussed, with calls for policies promoting responsible AI adoption.

On social media, perspectives were mixed where some argued that AI enhances critical thinking by improving learning efficiency, while others warned that excessive reliance could lead to intellectual laziness. The consensus was that AI should be a tool to complement, not replace, human reasoning.

The discussion highlighted the importance of AI education, ethical safeguards, and a shift toward skills-based learning to ensure young people can use AI effectively while maintaining strong critical thinking abilities.

Research studies validate these concerns. Szmyd & Mitera (2024) found that 83% of students fear AI could weaken their ability to think independently. Ahmad et al. (2023) reported that 68.9% of students experience increased laziness due to AI reliance. On the other hand, proponents argue that AI can be a powerful tool if used intentionally to complement human intelligence.

Youth Connect

The Ghana Grows Youth Connect centered on the theme of raising awareness and effectively utilizing AI technology, with a particular focus on its implications on the youth of today. The conversation featured insights from young people and three (3) speakers, including Juliana Afia Mahmood, a visually impaired young woman and a disability justice advocate, Mr. Antwi Boasiako Boateng, a technology specialist and Isaac Sesi, CEO of Sesi Technologies.

The X Space discussion focused on the potential and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the context of Ghana, particularly among the youth and marginalized communities, including persons with disabilities. The discussion highlighted the importance of integrating AI education into the curriculum at various educational levels and ensuring that the technology is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status or physical ability.

“AI has significantly improved the lives of persons with disabilities, making us more independent in areas like communication, navigation, and accessibility, but AI tools must be designed with the unique needs of different disability groups in mind.”- Juliana

The conversation was driven by the idea that AI offers significant economic opportunities, such as job creation and the potential to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. However, the discussion also touched on the challenges posed by AI, such as privacy concerns, job displacement, and the risk of widening the digital divide. The speakers emphasized that AI is reshaping industries and increasing demand for skilled professionals in fields such as machine learning, robotics, automation, and data science.

Antwi Boasiako defined AI as “simulating human activities within machines, enabling them to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence”. He further shared, “By learning about AI and equipping the youth with AI skills, we can access huge job opportunities both within our country and outside the country. It gives them that broad global reach.”

The conversation highlighted that young people who embrace AI can access global job markets and develop innovative AI-driven solutions to foster entrepreneurship. Isaac Sesi reinforced this, stating, “Every company is figuring out how to integrate AI into their products and services. Soon, AI proficiency will be as essential as knowing how to use Microsoft Word or Excel.”

AI’s ability to enhance productivity means businesses can accomplish more with fewer resources, leading to economic gains. To ensure that Ghana is not left behind in the AI revolution, the discussion stressed the importance of integrating AI into the educational system. Juliana Mahmoud suggested, “AI should be included in the curriculum from basic to senior high school levels so that students grow up knowing its applications and benefits.” She also highlighted the need for digital awareness campaigns using social media, radio, television, and local languages to reach both urban and rural communities.

Establishing IT training centers across different regions would provide hands-on AI experience and help bridge the digital divide. Antwi Boasiako reiterated, “If we make an effort to train our youth, we will be equipping them to thrive in the future of work. We cannot afford to be left behind.”

However, the conversation did not ignore the ethical concerns and challenges associated with AI adoption. A major concern was the risk of job displacement due to automation, particularly for low-skilled workers.

“AI is like a really smart computer that learns and makes decisions based on the information it has. Whether it’s helping doctors diagnose diseases more accurately or enhancing our educational tools, AI has endless applications. But as we embrace AI, we must also educate people on how to use it responsibly. Tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly useful, but only if people understand how to use them effectively. It’s about enhancing our productivity, not replacing our ability to think critically. Training is key, and people need to learn how to integrate AI into their work in a way that adds value and drives innovation.”- Isaac Sesi

The discussion also explored AI’s potential to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. AI-powered tools such as voice-over technology, text-to-speech, and speech-to-text have been beneficial to visually and hearing-impaired individuals. However, Mahmoud pointed out the gaps, stating, “Some AI platforms, like Meta AI on Facebook, don’t have voice-over features, making it difficult for visually impaired users. Stronger internet connectivity is also needed for AI tools to function effectively.”

Sesi added, “AI can be designed to be more user-friendly by incorporating customizable settings such as adjustable font sizes, contrast, and simplified language for users with cognitive disabilities.” The speakers agreed that AI should be developed with inclusiveness in mind, ensuring that marginalized communities can also benefit from technological advancements.

A participant shared practical insights into how AI can be adapted to fit Africa’s unique context. “We’ve been working on an AI tool to improve emergency healthcare in rural areas. By integrating local data, like the proximity of pharmacies or the availability of midwives, we’ve doubled the effectiveness of AI in providing relevant solutions. This shows that Africa can’t just be a consumer of AI; we need to contribute to its development by adding our local context. Additionally, there’s immense potential in using AI for language translation, making these tools accessible to non-English speakers. But we must act quickly and small, nimble companies in Ghana have a window of opportunity to leverage AI before larger corporations catch up. If we don’t take advantage now, we’ll lose our competitive edge.”

As the conversation concluded, the speakers called for action from multiple stakeholders. Governments and institutions need to invest in AI education and infrastructure, while private sector players should explore ways to integrate AI into various industries, including healthcare, education, and finance. Individuals must also take the initiative to upskill and leverage AI for career advancement. Sesi shared his last words saying, “AI is here to stay, and whether you are in tech or not, learning how to use AI effectively can improve your career and productivity.”

The overarching theme was that Africa must transition from being mere consumers of AI to becoming innovators. “We have the talent and potential to create AI solutions suited to our context. Let’s take advantage of it,” Boasiako urged. The discussion ended on a good note, reinforcing that AI presents immense opportunities, but only if harnessed responsibly and inclusively.

Social Media Interactions

In addition to the Youth Connect (X space discussion), Ghana Grows conducted social media research to gather wider youth perspectives on the growing influence of AI and its impact on the critical thinking among young people. The findings reflect a spectrum of viewpoints from those who see AI as an enhancer to others who caution against its potential to suppress critical thinking.

The question posed was “Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) suppressing the critical thinking skills of young people? Or is it rather enhancing them? A or B?. The responses highlighted different perspectives, revealing both the benefits and challenges of AI in shaping young minds.

Many young people view AI as a powerful tool that, when used appropriately, enhances critical thinking. Some respondents argued that AI helps streamline information retrieval, making it easier to access knowledge that would otherwise require extensive research.

One respondent shared, “AI has helped me a lot, and I understand some things far better and clearer because I know what I am always looking for and I reap lots of benefits.”

Another emphasized that AI has made learning more accessible, stating, “With the help of technology like YouTube, Quora, chatbots, and ChatGPT, online learning has become easier. People prefer learning online rather than going to physical classes.”

For some, AI has transformed the way they approach tasks. A respondent explained, “If you want to develop a software, it involves many lines of code. But if you know exactly what you want to do, you can use AI to generate the code in no time. Instead of a whole year’s work, you’ll be done in just three days. So AI, to me, enhances critical thinking rather than suppressing it.”

However, while AI offers numerous benefits, there were concerns about its potential to suppress independent thinking. Some respondents pointed out that many students use AI to complete assignments without making any effort to analyze or understand the answers provided.

Another respondent shared, “I have witnessed students use AI for assignments by just copying and pasting questions and waiting for the AI to give them answers, without even making an effort to think and try solving these questions.” Another respondent echoed this sentiment, stating, “The worst part is that some are even too lazy to read through what the AI has provided.”

The consensus among the responses was that AI should be viewed as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for critical thinking. Several individuals stressed the importance of learning how to use AI effectively, tailoring queries to derive meaningful insights rather than passively accepting outputs.

One commenter expressed “AI is an amplifier, it magnifies who you are. If you are smart, AI makes you smarter. If you are the opposite, AI exposes you. There are people who have applied for jobs and written their applications with AI and fumbled so much that even the points where AI asked them to insert their names, the application still had ‘Your Name’ in that column.”

Others highlighted the necessity of discipline and intentionality in AI usage. Another respondent explained, “AI should always play a complementary role to critical thinking and analysis. But as it stands now, I’m convinced that most youth are getting lazier by the day due to the levels of advancement in AI.”

A respondent shared a different perspective saying “Our problem with AI is that our education system is so dependent on rote memorization that we are frustrated by the fact that people can easily find answers to such information. We need to re-engineer education and become more skills based. That’s why elsewhere, open-book exams are allowed because you can’t just copy the answers, you have to apply them.”

The discussion surrounding AI and critical thinking is complex and diverging. While AI has the potential to enhance learning and problem-solving, its effectiveness ultimately depends on how individuals engage with it. If used wisely, AI can promote intellectual growth, fostering innovation and deeper understanding. However, if misused, it risks diminishing the very cognitive abilities that define human intelligence.

Recommendations from Young People

• Design AI tools with customizable, inclusive features such as voice-over, text-to-speech, adjustable fonts, and simplified language options for people with disabilities.
• Develop AI-powered solutions targeting local challenges in agriculture, health, education, and public services.
• Run continuous public education campaigns on responsible AI use, digital literacy, and critical thinking through radio, TV, social media, and local languages.
• Educational institutions should adopt teaching approaches that promote inquiry-based and skills-focused learning rather than rote memorization. This could involve incorporating open-book assessments, problem-solving exercises, and AI innovation clubs that nurture students’ curiosity and creativity from an early age. Schools and universities should also organize innovation challenges and workshops to give students opportunities to develop AI-driven solutions to local problems.
• Young people must take personal initiative to learn about AI and its practical applications, regardless of their career path. By adopting AI as a productivity-enhancing tool rather than a replacement for critical thinking, they can improve their job prospects and contribute to national development. Young people should also advocate for ethical, responsible, and inclusive AI development within their communities, ensuring that Ghana not only consumes AI technology but also contributes innovative, context-specific solutions to the global digital space.

About Ghana Grows

Ghana Grows is a youth-led programme that inspires young people to discover career opportunities and supports them in pursuing decent and fulfilling jobs in Agriculture, Agribusiness, and the Technical and Vocational Skills sectors.

The programme aims to change young people’s negative perceptions of these sectors. Ghana Grows is an initiative of the Mastercard Foundation and Springboard Road Show Foundation.

Source: Springboard Road Show Foundation