The Dos and Don’ts of Using AI to Study

Traditional study methods, such as flashcards and completing practice tests, have their merits, but with all the AI tools out there, it’s never been easier to find new ways of studying.

However, AI tools can have biases and give out wrong information, and relying on them too much can create gaps in your learning.

When used correctly though, AI tools can be great ways of finding new information, creating outlines, and summarizing topics — something I’ve found saves me time, clarifies complex ideas, and keeps my learning techniques fresh. 

In this article, I share my top dos and don’ts of using AI to study, breaking down the key things to keep in mind and seven ways to use AI to boost your studying habits.

The Dos: How AI can help you study

Below are seven ways to use AI when studying.

Design personalized study plans

Personalized study plans can help you maximize your time studying by catering to your needs and preferences. While creating these is usually a bit tricky, AI tools — like Taskade’s Study Schedule Generator — can make it a breeze. 

Add necessary information, such as your class schedule, assignments, exam dates, other important deadlines, and any social or extracurricular activities. Then, the AI tool can help you map out your study time alongside these details. Just like that, you’ve got an easy-to-follow, personalized study plan.

Generate smart flashcards and practice quizzes 

AI tools like Quizlet, Brainscape, and Revisely can automatically generate flashcards and practice quizzes based on your study material. 

Simply upload your notes, and these tools will create flashcards and practice quizzes for you. Some tools integrate flashcards with quizzes, so you can test your knowledge immediately after you’re done reviewing facts, concepts, terms, etc. 

Incorporate voice-based learning

AI voice tools can help you diversify your learning methods beyond text-based studying. Use these tools to convert written text (like reference material or notes) into voice, create voice-based flashcards, study for language exams, or listen to summaries. 

Here are some ways you can incorporate voice-based learning into your study sessions using AI:

• Use voice commands to access answers while studying. For example, ask Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant to answer questions in your textbooks or learning materials. This keeps your attention focused and saves you time physically searching for answers. Just make sure you’re not using AI to think for you. Use it to clarify concepts while you’re studying or creating flashcards. Avoid using it if you’re doing practice quizzes or actively trying to memorize information. 
• Create a set of voice-based flashcards using tools like Conch.
• Listen to audio-based summaries created by apps like Speechify.
• Practice pronunciation for language-based studying using tools like Mondly that provide instant feedback on your accent and intonation.

Interact with virtual tutors

AI-assisted virtual tutoring platforms can offer a personalized learning experience and study support whenever you need it, no matter where you are. 

Here are a couple of tools to get you started:

• Q-Chat from Quizlet is a chatbot that lets you choose various activities to help you study. Ask it to quiz you, let you apply your knowledge, teach you things, or use fun methods to remember facts — e.g., catchy rhymes or a game of two truths and a lie.
• Tutory IO works like a chatbot, letting you ask questions and get simple, helpful explanations. 
• Brainly is an AI learning companion that helps you study and provides personalized homework to boost your learning. You can chat with AI tutors to break down topics and test your knowledge in particular subjects. Plus, use your phone to scan notes to get help solving homework problems.  
• AITutor is great for UK students taking A-levels or GCSEs. It offers homework tasks to help you study, alongside personalized study plans and videos of real tutors explaining difficult subjects. 
• StudyMonkey is a free AI tool students in the US can use to prepare for the SAT.

Summarize notes, recorded lectures, and more

With an AI-powered summarizing tool like Wordtune’s Summarizer, you can quickly generate summaries from your study materials — including videos.

Simply paste video links or text from handouts, upload PDFs, or add your notes to the Summarizer. The tool will then sum up the information for you in a neat bulleted list alongside a handy notes tab.

Wordtune’s Summarizer also doubles as a personal library. You can store and organize all your notes, recordings, PDF handouts, resource links, and more in one place.

Plus, you can search your entire library of materials using semantic search. To do this, type a keyword or question, and Wordtune will pull up all your resources relevant to that keyword or question.

Create concept maps

AI tools can help you create concept maps that make connections between topics or ideas. By organizing information in a more helpful way, concept mapping can make complex ideas or topics easier to understand. 

AI tools like Taskade make concept mapping easier — and can create some unique connections. These tools also provide mapping templates, flowcharts, and diagram creation based on ChatGPT prompts. 

Here’s how to get started with concept-mapping tools:

• Have your information handy — whether it’s from a textbook, PDFs, notes, or a lecture. 
• Input your information into one of the templates to generate a map. 
• Starting with your main topic, create blocks that shoot off it and go into deeper detail of sub-topics. 
• Review the map, checking that the extracted information makes sense where it’s been placed. Edit and move things around as necessary.
• Keep adding to it. Include more information, ideas, and links in new blocks as you come across them while studying. This allows you to build your map and ensure it stays relevant. You might also discover surprising links between topics or concepts, so you can draw those connections, too. 

Get help researching

Lastly, AI tools can be a great resource while researching. They can summarize content, highlight key points, and answer your questions. Additionally, they can help you find new perspectives on a topic to enhance your understanding.

ChatGPT can be a fantastic tool for this. Here are some questions you can ask the tool while conducting research: 

• What are the key concepts related to [topic]?
• Can you provide an overview of [topic]?
• What are the main arguments or findings in [research paper/book]?
• What are the current trends or developments in [field/industry]?
• What are the potential implications of [phenomenon/event]?
• What are the pros and cons of [issue/policy]?
• Can you recommend resources for further reading on [topic]?

The Don’ts: What to avoid when using AI to study

Now that we’ve covered how AI tools can help you study, let’s explore some “dont’s” to remember.

Don’t cut corners to avoid reading

AI-powered summarizing tools can help you digest information quickly as a first or second pass of the text, but don’t rely on them as a replacement for reading. It’s important to read through any notes, reports, or articles fully to ensure you haven’t missed valuable information, insights, or nuances.

Don’t take the information you’ve been given at face value

AI tools, particularly generative AI and large language models (LLMs), can sometimes make connections or statements that aren’t accurate. These are known as hallucinations. They happen because AI models are trained to find patterns in data and make predictions — and sometimes, they predict incorrectly. 

Additionally, AI models are typically trained on information several months (or more) behind the current time, so they won’t always provide the most up-to-date facts or source material. 

This is dangerous because unknowingly relying on inaccurate information can impact your understanding of topics and lead to wrong answers on tests.

So, be sure to check for any inaccuracies by searching for your own references and source material to back up any claims an AI tool makes. 

Likewise, always review and think critically about the information AI tools give you — whether that’s while brainstorming, asking AI tutor questions, or using ChatGPT to research. Take information as a leaping-off point to find primary sources, deepen your understanding, and explore connections between ideas on your own terms. 

Don’t get distracted

While AI tools can offer lots of valuable information, you must ensure it’s relevant to your study session. Regularly refer to your study plan and class syllabi so you can stay focused on what you should be studying.

Additionally, many AI tools have cool features and functionalities, but resist the temptation to “play around” with them while you’re meant to be studying. Give yourself 10-15 minutes to explore a tool and how it works, then focus on using it for your studies. 

Don’t become entirely reliant on AI tools

AI tools shouldn’t be your only route to studying. They should form part of a comprehensive study practice in which you study with peers, attend in-person tutoring sessions, and use other resources available to you, such as textbooks, online forums, research databases, libraries, etc.

Summary

AI tools can help you get the most out of your studying time by diversifying your learning style, creating practice quizzes, and personalizing study plans. These tools can also map out topic concepts, summarize information, and help you research. 

Be sure to use them wisely, though: Check for biases and inaccuracies, try not to get distracted by their features, and don’t rely too much on them. Instead, use them as a companion to your other study methods.

For more info on AI-based apps, check out our list of the 6 top study apps and 6 ways AI writing tools can save you time. 

FAQs

How can I use AI to study?

You can use AI tools to study by asking them to summarize information, find new angles or information, create topic concept maps, create personalized study plans, and generate study material such as flashcards and practice quizzes.

Is it okay to use AI to study?

Yes, it’s okay to use AI to study — but you must use it critically and not rely too heavily on the information it provides. Read this guide, or ask the teachers or library staff at your school for tips on using AI properly.