The rise of artificial intelligence in education sparks both excitement and fear. Some worry that AI will make learning too easy, encouraging intellectual laziness. But a closer look reveals that AI, when used thoughtfully, can actually enhance meaningful learning by removing unnecessary obstacles and amplifying the struggle that truly builds understanding.
The Two Faces of Struggle
Consider a historical example: in the 1970s, a PhD student completed his dissertation by manually punching data into computer cards. This tedious process consumed his time and mental energy, yet added nothing to the core intellectual challenge of his research. This is unproductive struggle —effort spent on logistical hurdles rather than cognitive work.
In contrast, productive struggle is the mental effort required to grasp complex concepts, solve problems, and develop expertise. The real challenge in the student’s dissertation wasn’t the card punching; it was formulating the model and interpreting the data. If that early computing time had been streamlined, he could have focused more on the productive struggle that drives genuine learning.
AI’s Potential to Refine Rigor
Today’s AI tools offer the same potential. Rather than fearing cognitive laziness, educators should see AI as a way to offload unproductive tasks. For example, AI can adjust reading levels in real-time, allowing students who struggle with decoding text to focus on the content itself. Instead of fighting the mechanics of reading, they can engage with the ideas.
This isn’t about making learning easier; it’s about making it more meaningful. Many assignments currently blend productive and unproductive struggle, often unintentionally. We reuse problem sets, value formatting rigor, and cling to practices that feel demanding but don’t deepen understanding.
Rethinking Assignments in the Age of AI
AI forces us to confront this imbalance. Why waste students’ time on citation formatting when the real intellectual work lies in evaluating sources? Why demand rote memorization when AI can handle recall, freeing students to focus on analysis?
The key is intentional design. Educators must redesign tasks to prioritize productive struggle. This means letting go of practices that feel rigorous but don’t genuinely deepen understanding. If implemented correctly, AI won’t hollow out learning; it will sharpen it. Students will have more space to wrestle with ideas, interpret evidence, and make sense of the world.
Ultimately, AI’s impact on education won’t be determined by the technology itself. It will be determined by our choices about how we use it: whether to eliminate unproductive barriers or simply accelerate mindless repetition.
By weeding out the digital “punch cards” of modern education, we can unlock more time for students to struggle over things that truly matter.
