College students are using AI to write their essays, and Elizabeth Chen, a current college student writing in the Martin Center, argues this habit is leaving graduates unprepared for the workforce. Chen says the temptation to copy-paste AI-generated content is easy and can produce good grades, but it prevents students from developing their own writing abilities. The stakes are clear: if students never learn to organize their thoughts or write clearly, they will carry that deficiency into professional roles that demand communication skills.
The cost of the AI shortcut
Chen reports that many high school graduates arrive at college with weak writing skills, and some professors say they cannot write at all. The problem compounds when those students turn to AI to generate outlines or full essays. "If these students . . . prompt AI to generate essay outlines, they will never learn how to organize their thoughts logically," Chen said. "If they copy-paste written content from AI, the quality of their writing will not improve through higher education."
She argues that students who rely on this crutch will graduate without the skills employers expect. The short-term payoff of a passing grade comes at the cost of long-term competence.
The opposite extreme is also a risk
Chen does not endorse banning AI outright. She warns that treating AI as a forbidden tool in coursework could leave students unable to use it effectively in their future jobs. "While over-reliance on AI in education is dangerous, it must be said that it can also be dangerous to take the other extreme - treating AI as if it were demonic," she said. "If faculty forbid the usage of AI for coursework altogether, students may struggle with using AI tools effectively in their future jobs."
Her position is that AI has a legitimate place in education when used with judgment. "AI can be a very useful tool in education when students use it with discernment," Chen said. She calls on faculty to train students to read, write, and think critically, using AI as "a colleague" rather than a substitute for their own reasoning. That approach aligns with broader conversations about AI for Education.
Why this matters for writers
Writers face the same tension Chen describes in the classroom. Using AI to draft or brainstorm can speed up work, but leaning on it too heavily can erode the core skills that make writing valuable: judgment, voice, and the ability to structure a coherent argument. The practical takeaway is to use AI for the mechanical parts of the job, not the thinking parts. Treat the tool as a drafting partner, then apply your own editorial judgment before anything gets published. That habit keeps your skills sharp and your work defensible. Resources for AI for Writers can help professionals find that balance.
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