Chapter 2: Using AI as Your Study Buddy

Let’s be honest: most of us want to get better results with less stress. That’s fair. That’s human.

But there’s a big difference between using AI to understand something and using it to avoid doing the work.

In this chapter, we’ll show how AI can become your:

🧠 Thinking partner
📖 Private tutor
✍️ Revision coach
🎯 Practice assistant

And we’ll also talk about:

When AI becomes a crutch
What not to delegate to machines
How to build trust in your own thinking again

How to Ask Better Questions

AI gives good answers. But it gives great answers when you ask great questions. This is called prompting.

You might ask:

“Explain Newton’s Third Law like I’m 12.”
“Summarize this chapter in 5 bullet points.”
“Give me 3 MCQs for this concept.”
“Test me with a fill-in-the-blank quiz.”

The clearer your prompt, the clearer the response.

Think of it like training a new assistant. Be kind, be clear, and be curious.

What You Can Try Right Now

Open ChatGPT (or any AI tool)
Type: "Explain cell division to a 14-year-old who loves cricket."
Read what it says. Then ask: "Make it even simpler."

Keep going. It won’t laugh. It won’t get tired. It will just keep trying.

Learning is better when it feels safe.

Don’t Let AI Do Your Thinking

Here’s where students sometimes go wrong:

They use AI to write their essays without understanding the content.
They copy homework answers word for word.
They rely on it for opinions without forming their own.

This isn’t learning. It’s outsourcing.

And when you outsource thinking, you lose confidence. Slowly. Quietly. And sometimes, permanently.

Use AI to support your thinking. But come back to your own voice. That’s what matters most.

A Gentle Check-In

Have you ever used AI to avoid a hard assignment?
How did that feel afterward?
What could you try differently next time?

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep learning honestly.

💛 This series is part of Students of India — helping students understand AI, education, and themselves without fear or labels. If it resonated with you, here’s how you can support it:

Support the project

Thank you for helping build a space where students feel seen, beyond marks, pressure, or the expectations of others.

Next Up → Chapter 3: Learning Without Judgment