Ever since AI tools and ChatGPT became popular, schools nationwide have reacted with fear and frustration. A lot of them have tried to block these websites or have cracked down on anything that looks like it has been AI generated or has AI in it. I understand the concern that they have, some students really do take shortcuts, and teachers are trying to keep things all fair. But banning AI and pretending it doesn’t exist doesn’t help anyone. It’s already part of jobs, everyday life, and almost every industry in the world right now. If schools want us to be prepared for the real world, they need to teach us how to use AI the right way, not just try to shut it out.

The thing is, AI can actually help students when it is used in the right way. For example, when I was stuck on an AP Environmental Science assignment last year, I used an AI tool to help re-explain the concept I could not understand. It did not write anything for me, it just broke things down in a way that finally made sense to me and that I could actually understand. It has also given me simple ways to memorize vocabulary terms for an upcoming vocab quiz, which has actually helped me learn the definitions, so they stick in my brain. this is exactly why schools should focus on teaching responsible use instead of pretending it does not exist.

Of course there are risks. Some students will use AI to avoid doing the work themselves, but that’s why schools should teach proper use. With clear expectations, like when AI help is okay, when it isn’t, and how to credit it, students would actually know how to use it the right way. And since AI is already part of almost every modern job we have now, from healthcare to advertising, pretending it does not exist only puts us behind. If we are going to be ready for the real world, we need to learn how to use AI tools honesty and responsibly. Learning how to use AI more responsibly does not lower our academic standards it actually makes our education more relevant and real to today’s world.