How I Use AI: My Reflection on Its Value and Future Adaptation
Introduction
As an Education student studying in the UK, my academic journey has been greatly influenced by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Over the past two semesters, I have gradually integrated AI tools into various aspects of my learning. In this blog, I share how I have used AI, the value it has added to my academic work, and how I intend to adapt my use of AI in the future.
How I Currently Use AI
1. Academic Writing Assistance
When starting essays, I often turn to AI tools such as ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas, explore different perspectives that help structure my outlines. Once I have completed a draft, I use Grammarly to refine my language, correct grammatical errors, and enhance the overall clarity of my writing. Additionally, I rely on QuillBot for paraphrasing ambiguous sentences and improving the coherence and academic tone of my work.
2. Information Retrieval and Literature Review
AI summarisation tools allow me to quickly grasp the main arguments of lengthy journal articles, saving valuable time during busy weeks. Some platforms also suggest related studies and emerging research trends, helping me broaden my understanding of key topics in Education, such as student-centred learning and critical pedagogy.
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3. Time Management and Emotional Comfort
AI not only enhances academic performance but also optimizes time management in daily life (Ward et al., 2024). Through intelligent scheduling and task reminder functions, AI can organize priorities based on my learning pace, helping me avoid distractions or missing important deadlines. These features become especially important when there is a need to juggle coursework, group projects and personal life schedules.
Sometimes when I feel down or frustrated, chatting with an AI really helps. It listens patiently, gives calm and logical replies, and somehow makes me feel less overwhelmed. Unlike talking to people, I don’t have to worry about being judged — it’s just a quiet space where I can sort out my feelings. Even a few short conversations often lift my mood and help me see things more clearly.
The Value I Get From AI
AI functions as a critical tool that enhances international students' academic achievement while supporting their integration into unfamiliar cultural and social environments (Wang et al., 2023).
Academically, I employ AI-powered tools to systematically review lecture materials, such as PowerPoint and assigned readings. By extracting key arguments, summarizing complex theories, AI enhances my efficiency in pre-class preparation and deepens my engagement with course content. This has been instrumental in helping me adapt to the independent and critical thinking–oriented educational culture in the UK.
AI also assists with practical aspects of daily living. For instance, during the Easter vacation, AI applications helped me generate detailed travel itineraries and offered in-depth insights into historical and cultural attractions. Additionally, AI provides personalized recommendations for product purchases and offers step-by-step culinary guidance, facilitating a smoother transition into a new social and cultural environment.
How I plan to utilize AI in the future
Although AI offers great convenience and efficiency, I have found many issues during its use. More than once, I am aware that AI can sometimes provide inaccurate information, such as incorrect references or misleading data.
Looking ahead, I hope to maintain a clear and proactive mindset when using AI. Its presence should not replace human thinking, but rather support it. Inspired by Gerlich (2025), I believe AI should serve as a thinking partner—not just an answer provider. In future studies, I plan to use AI more strategically to help structure my thoughts, improve my writing, and enhance research productivity. However, I will remain mindful of its limitations. The true value lies not just in the tool, but in how I apply my own understanding, experience, and judgment when working with AI.
Eventually, I hope to explore how AI can be applied in educational design and intercultural communication—helping others, especially international students, adapt to different academic cultures just as I have.
AI Declaration
This blog was created with the assistance of Deepseek. It was used to refine critical analysis, and improve the clarity of expression. However, the final content has been reviewed and edited to ensure originality, coherence, and academic integrity.
References
Gerlich, M. (2025). AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and the Future of Critical Thinking. Societies, [online] 15(1), p.6. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15010006.
Wang, T., Lund, B.D., Marengo, A., Pagano, A., Mannuru, N.R., Teel, Z.A. and Pange, J. (2023). Exploring the Potential Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on International Students in Higher Education: Generative AI, Chatbots, Analytics, and International Student Success. Applied Sciences, [online] 13(11), p.6716. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116716.
Ward, B., Bhati, D., Neha, F. and Guercio, A. (2024). Analyzing the Impact of AI Tools on Student Study Habits and Academic Performance. arXiv (Cornell University). doi:https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2412.02166.
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