In this episode of Kitchen Table College Chat, Gary Stocker and Marc DeBoer take opposing viewpoints on one of the biggest questions facing education today: Should high school students embrace artificial intelligence? Framing the discussion as a debate between an AI skeptic and an AI advocate, they explore whether AI is primarily a learning tool or a shortcut that discourages critical thinking. Gary argues that students need to develop their own reasoning skills before relying on technology, warning that overdependence on AI could weaken creativity, individuality, and the ability to solve problems independently. Marc counters that AI is as transformative and inevitable as the calculator or the internet, arguing that students who learn to use it effectively will gain a significant advantage in college and future careers.

The conversation expands to examine how AI may reshape college admissions, essay writing, workforce preparation, and the future role of higher education itself. The hosts discuss whether colleges should disclose their use of AI in admissions decisions, how students can use AI ethically for brainstorming and studying, and whether schools have a responsibility to teach responsible AI use rather than resist it. While both agree that AI is here to stay, they differ sharply on its long-term impact: Marc believes students who master AI will thrive in an increasingly automated world, while Gary worries that relying on prompts instead of human judgment and experience could erode the critical thinking skills that education is meant to develop. The episode leaves listeners with a central question: in an AI-driven future, how do we balance efficiency with authentic learning?