Does artificial intelligence in education contribute to social development or cognitive degradation?

Background and Aim of Study: Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a strategic element of the modern educational space. Adaptive platforms, automated assessment systems, intelligent tutors, generative models, and big data analytics create new opportunities for individualized and inclusive learning. However, critics point out that excessive reliance on automated solutions can lead to decreased student independence, superficial knowledge acquisition, and disruption of long-term memory formation. The impact of AI on social development and cognitive dynamics is becoming a key issue in 21st-century educational research. The aim of the study: to analyze current issues related to the impact of AI on education and identify the conditions that ensure its positive influence on the educational process. Conclusions: AI in education has the potential to significantly enhance social development, expand access to knowledge, and foster new collaborative skills. However, without thoughtful implementation and pedagogical support, AI technologies can contribute to cognitive degradation, a decline in critical thinking, and a weakening of social competencies. Therefore, a key challenge for modern science and practice is finding the optimal balance where AI acts as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human intelligence and social interaction. To this end, educators and educational institutions must take a comprehensive approach that covers the following areas: educators acting as mentors when working with AI; using AI as a mentor in education; and promoting transparency and digital literacy in education.