Some rivalries are logical. Red Sox vs. Yankees? Sure — blame Harry Frazee selling Babe Ruth to fund No No Nanette. Scotland wanting independence from the UK? Centuries of history. But my personal rivalry? I refuse to watch Hamilton.
It’s not that I think it’s bad — I just enjoy annoying my brother, a huge Lin-Manuel Miranda fan, by not understanding his references. I could watch it and still pretend, but where’s the fun in that? Sometimes it’s about the principle.
My feelings about AI in education aren’t as playful. This rivalry is real — and it has serious consequences for how students learn.
Why Zinkerz Is Wary of AI in Education
We’ve said it before: tools like ChatGPT aren’t a magic shortcut to creativity or productivity. Too often, they’re a shortcut around thinking. Instead of engaging deeply with an assignment, students can let AI do the work for them — bypassing the learning process entirely.
The danger? Students risk graduating without the ability to think critically, solve complex problems, or create independently.
Terence Tao’s “Open AI” Exam Proposal
Terence Tao — the “Mozart of Mathematics” — recently suggested a shift in academia: embrace “open book, open AI” exams. In his view, AI will soon handle much of the work on traditional university-level homework. Instead of fighting it, he suggests, educators should adapt and create more challenging questions.
On paper, it sounds modern. In reality, it’s problematic.
The Trouble with “Open AI” Testing
We’ve tested AI on math. The results? Unreliable at best. ChatGPT can mimic the look of correct work but struggles to maintain accuracy. It drops digits, misunderstands variables, and treats equations like sentences to explain rather than problems to solve.
If it can’t reliably solve x² + 6x + c = 0, how could it handle advanced university-level problems? Simply making questions harder doesn’t magically make AI better — or students more prepared.
The Domino Effect on Education
If universities make exams harder to offset AI use, high schools will feel the pressure to match. But many schools — especially underfunded ones — already struggle to meet existing standards.
Raising difficulty without raising support risks discouraging students, widening achievement gaps, and pushing more young people away from academics.
A Smarter Solution: Teach AI Literacy
Rather than integrating AI into every exam, we should treat it like a skill to be taught, not a crutch to lean on. Universities could add AI literacy courses — similar to core writing or math requirements — so students learn how to use AI responsibly and effectively.
As with calculus, students should understand why a process works before they’re handed the shortcut.
Why Real Teachers Still Matter
AI may be artificial, but education is human. At Zinkerz, we believe in building the skills, habits, and confidence that prepare students for college and beyond — without cutting corners.
Our SAT and AP prep, subject tutoring, language courses, and coding classes are led by experienced educators who know how to challenge and support students.
Final Thoughts
Movies may make robots seem charming, but in the classroom, nothing replaces the guidance of a real teacher. AI in education is a tool — not a teacher — and when overused, it risks weakening the very skills school is meant to develop.
At Zinkerz, we’ll keep preparing students the right way — by empowering them to think, create, and succeed on their own terms.
