Better answers, broader thinking: What students gain from ChatGPT and critical-thinking training

A study of over 1,000 first-year students at Bocconi University found that access to ChatGPT (a large language model, or LLM) improved the quality and professionalism of student work on a business assignment, while separate training in causal reasoning (a form of critical thinking involving understanding cause-and-effect relationships) led students to generate more original and diverse ideas. Students who received both ChatGPT access and critical-thinking training showed benefits from each approach, suggesting that AI tools and thinking skills are complementary rather than competing.