Kolkata — Artificial intelligence may make learning faster and more convenient, but it has not eliminated the need for sustained effort, according to Sudeshna Sarkar, a professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur.
Sarkar addressed several common assumptions about learning in the age of AI, arguing that technology is most effective when it strengthens the learning process rather than replacing it.
“Technology has been changing very fast, but what has not changed is the effort that you have to spend to learn. You have to keep up with technology and continue to learn,” she said.
Sarkar said there is an important difference between receiving an immediate explanation from an AI system and developing a deeper understanding of a subject.
“AI can give you instantaneous explanations, and that is convenient. But when students struggle with a problem, trying to solve it, failing, recalibrating, that produces true understanding. They can then internalise it, transfer it to new contexts, and that knowledge becomes much more valuable,” she said.
She also argued that struggling with a difficult problem should not be viewed as failure.
“Getting stalled is failure. Wrestling with a solution and reaching it teaches much more than shortcuts. Students develop a sense they can transfer to new situations,” Sarkar said in a video shared by IIT Kharagpur on X.
Sarkar said AI can reduce the amount of effort required for some tasks, but it does not make hard work unnecessary.
“AI has reduced the effort but not made hard work optional. What is important today is constructing the ability to understand and apply knowledge to different situations,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of developing higher-order learning skills and critical understanding so students can go beyond what AI systems already provide and apply knowledge to unfamiliar problems.
IIT Kharagpur also highlighted an ongoing initiative through the National Digital Library of India aimed at providing more personalized academic support to students.
“For every learner, the right guidance at the right moment can make a difference. Yet providing personalised, one-to-one academic support at scale remains a challenge,” the institute said.
The institute said it is working with Fermi AI to develop an AI-enabled learning experience designed to guide students, keep them engaged and encourage them to work through problems independently.
“Stuck on a problem? You won’t be alone for long,” IIT Kharagpur said. (Source: IANS)
