# AI changes student writing and thinking

> Students use AI to write essays, but lose skills for college.
- Title: AI changes student writing and thinking | Shortify
- Summary: Students use AI to write essays, but lose skills for college. Students increasingly use AI for writing, risking weaker college readiness and critical…
- Keywords: student writing, college readiness, critical thinking, berkeley, writing skills, essay, ai chatbots, uc writing requirement, news, local, changes, student
- Source: The San Francisco Standard — https://sfstandard.com/2026/10/21/ai-changing-students-learn-write-think
- Published: 2026-10-21T13:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: ai, student writing, college readiness, critical thinking, uc, berkeley, writing skills, essay, ai chatbots, uc writing requirement, news, local
## Macbeth-gate incident
Eliza Russo, Lincoln High English teacher, noticed all 12th graders' papers sounded written by one person or AI.

> Polished turds. It looks good on the surface, but there is nothing of substance or value in what it’s actually saying.
## AI essay use among students
54% of 13- to 17-year-olds used AI chatbots for schoolwork, and 59% said students at their school used chatbots to cheat somewhat or very often.
## Declining writing tests
California ended fourth- and seventh-grade writing tests in 2013 and suspended high school exit exams with essays in 2015.
## UC writing bar
Fewer UC freshmen meet the writing requirement: 68% in fall 2025 versus 74.9% in 2022.
## Berkeley writing gap
Last fall, 1,109 Berkeley freshmen did not meet the writing requirement, more than five times as many as in 2016.
## AI and cognitive load
AI tools allow students to avoid thinking by completing writing tasks, reducing long-term learning.
## Writing as thinking
Plato’s Phaedrus argues writing makes people forgetful because they trust written words instead of their own memories.
## College writing challenges
Students who use AI for homework get better grades but worse exam scores within six months.
## Writing for college
Students lose confidence in their writing skills after using AI, often turning to AI responses for help.
## Writing skills gap
Many students haven’t read a full book in high school, struggling with writing tasks.
## AI and college readiness
Students using AI for writing may not develop critical thinking skills needed for college.
## Writing as communication
Writing helps people tell life stories, convince others, and express emotions.
## AI writing impact
Students using AI for writing tasks may lose confidence in their ability to write without assistance.
## Writing for college applications
Students’ college essays become more monolithic, less individualized, and less reflective of their experiences.
## Writing skills decline
Students using AI for writing tasks may struggle with college-level writing and critical thinking.
## Key takeaway

Students increasingly use AI for writing, risking weaker college readiness and critical thinking skills.