Balancing Gen Z's Dependence on AI: Challenges and Solutions in Education

In this digital era, Generation Z (Gen Z) is growing up with continuously evolving technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). According to a Google survey, 43% of Gen Z in Indonesia are already AI literate and are adopting it in their daily lives. However, excessive dependence on AI raises concerns that the critical thinking and creativity of Gen Z might be affected.

As AI becomes an integral part of daily life, this challenge grows larger. Therefore, educational stakeholders such as universities, schools, and other educational institutions must collaboratively create effective strategies to position AI as a helpful companion rather than a tool that fosters dependency.

AI can simplify complex tasks and provide quick solutions. For instance, in education, AI assists in research, generates insights, and even helps to solve complex problems. However, its negative impact is the emergence of dependency. Excessive reliance on AI can reduce students' willingness to think critically and creatively, and solve problems independently. 

According to a survey by Pew Research Center, 72% of teenagers feel they are too dependent on technology, including AI, to complete their tasks.

In this context, educators need to devise strategies to reduce dependency on AI. Some ways to achieve this include:

Socialization of Ethical and Responsible AI Use

Teaching students about the ethics of AI usage and how to use it responsibly. This includes understanding AI's limitations and knowing when to rely on one's own abilities.

Development of Critical and Creative Thinking Skills
Using AI as a tool for brainstorming and idea generation, not as the end solution. By integrating technology with traditional approaches, combining traditional teaching methods with AI technology can provide a balance that supports learning with AI while emphasizing the importance of manual research and critical analysis.

Collaboration Between Industry and Education

The tech industry and educational institutions should collaborate to create tools and programs that encourage responsible AI usage. This involves promoting AI technologies that support active learning rather than just providing instant answers.

A report by McKinsey mentions that 70% of tech companies are collaborating with educational institutions to develop programs that support healthy and responsible AI use.

AI will continue to be part of Gen Z's life, both in education and the workforce. The challenge for all of us is to ensure that AI is used as a tool that aids and facilitates personal and professional development, not as a crutch that weakens critical and creative thinking abilities.

With the right strategies, we can guide Gen Z to utilize AI wisely and responsibly, making AI a companion in their journey toward a bright future.

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