Key take-aways

• Supporting Critical Thinking in the Age of AI: students need support in developing their critical thinking skills as a part of learning academic practices. At worst, AI can short-circuit this process by offering ready-made answers that bypass intellectual effort (see Gerlich, 2025). However, teachers can consciously guide students through tasks that require critical engagement with AI, asking them to report what they are doing and why. Rather than accepting AI-generated content at face value, students are encouraged to reflect on the usefulness, reliability, and implications of the information. In this way, they can begin to see AI’s potential in developing their own academic reasoning.
• AI Literacy as a Core Academic Skill: AI is likely to become an increasingly important part of academic practices, and learning to engage with it critically is no longer optional. Developing AI literacy, especially the ability to question, evaluate, and reflect on AI-generated content, is essential for preparing students for their future professions.