Sridhar Vembu issues AI warning for students, says it can make them dumb fast

Key points

• Artificial intelligence is helping students solve problems, write assignments and prepare for exams faster than ever before.
• But according to Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, that convenience could come with a hidden cost.
• Reacting to reports of rising failure rates in computer science courses at UC Berkeley, Vembu warned that students who depend too much on AI may end up weakening the very skills they are trying to develop.
• His comments come at a time when AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude are becoming increasingly common in classrooms and study routines.
• While these platforms can provide instant answers and explanations, Vembu believes students should first build strong fundamentals before relying on them extensively.