SOME 18.9 million Filipinos who finished high school between 2019 and 2024 may be considered "functionally illiterate," struggling with reading comprehension despite years of education. This number came from a study by the Philippine Statistics Authority and was discussed in a Senate hearing. It's a worrying picture, especially as we live in a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common in everyday life. But what happens when children who already have trouble understanding what they read start using AI tools?

AI seems like a great shortcut. It can answer questions, summarize texts, write essays and even explain difficult topics. But if a child already has low comprehension, AI doesn't always help the way we hope it will. Instead of solving the problem, it can hide it. A child might type a question into an AI chatbot and get a polished, well-written answer. That looks like success, but what if the child can't fully understand the answer? What if they can't tell whether it makes sense or is it even correct? That's when AI stops being helpful and starts becoming a crutch.

When children rely too much on AI, they often stop trying to understand things on their own. They get used to instant answers. This discourages them from reading carefully, thinking critically or asking their own questions. I've seen this happen. A student copies a question into an AI tool then pastes the response into their homework. The teacher marks it right. The student feels smart. But when asked to explain the answer, the student struggles. There was no learning; just copying, and if this happens often enough, it gets harder and harder for that student to improve his or her reading or thinking skills.

We also have to talk about language. AI writes in ways that are often more complex than what young readers are used to. If a child already struggles with comprehension, a typical AI response can overwhelm. The sentences are long, the vocabulary advanced, ideas are layered. Instead of helping the child learn, the AI ends up adding to the confusion. Some tools offer "simplified" versions, but they're not always easy or accurate enough for kids who really need help.

Another problem is that children may not know how to ask the right questions. AI works well when you know how to phrase a prompt clearly. But kids who don't fully understand a topic might not even know what to ask in the first place. They might type something vague or too broad and the AI gives them a generic answer that doesn't help much. Worse, they might ask the wrong question entirely and not even realize it. Without strong comprehension skills, children can't judge whether the answer fits the question. They don't see the gaps.

It also matters what kids are using AI for. When they use it to generate essays or book reports, it's easy to mistake output for understanding. They may turn in something that looks impressive, but that doesn't mean they grasp the ideas in it. Teachers might not catch this every time, especially when they're overloaded or when grading happens quickly. The risk is that poor comprehension gets masked by well-written answers created by machines. The child moves up a grade level without actually improving.

Some people say AI is like a calculator for reading and writing. Just like calculators helped with math, they believe AI can help with language. But that comparison doesn't hold up. You can still learn math while using a calculator because the logic is more straightforward. Reading and writing, on the other hand, are more than just putting words together. They involve understanding context, tone, meaning and structure. These are things AI can't fully teach, especially to a child who already struggles.

I'm not saying we should stop kids from using AI altogether. It's not realistic. The technology is here, and it's only going to become more common. But we need to guide children on how to use it, especially those with poor comprehension skills. Teachers and parents need to be involved. Instead of just letting kids use AI to finish work faster, we should be asking them questions about what they read, helping them break down answers and teaching them how to check if something makes sense. The goal isn't just to get the right answer. It's to understand why it's right.

If we're not careful, AI will only widen the gap. Children who already read and think well will use AI to get even better. Those who struggle will fall further behind, and because AI can produce work that looks smart, we might not even notice. We'll think they're doing fine until it's too late.

We have to remember that AI doesn't fix comprehension problems. It can only work well when users already understand the basics. For kids who are still learning to make sense of what they read, the real answer lies in stronger reading programs, better teaching support and more time spent helping them grow those core skills. Without that foundation, AI can't really help them. It can only cover up the problem.

The author is the founder and CEO of Hungry Workhorse, a digital, culture and customer experience transformation consulting firm. He is a fellow at the US-based Institute for Digital Transformation and teaches strategic management and digital transformation in the MBA Program of De La Salle University. The author may be emailed at rey.lugtu@hungryworkhorse.com.

Source: https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/05/08/business/top-business/ai-and-the-comprehension-gap/2108094