Adaptive Ai Tutors Vs. The Traditional Teacher: Measuring The Impact On Student Autonomy

This article examines the comparative impact of adaptive artificial intelligence (AI) systems and traditional teaching methods on student autonomy and critical thinking. While adaptive AI tutors offer unprecedented personalization and support for self-regulated learning, they introduce risks of cognitive offloading and dependency. The study analyzes how cognitive fatigue and information literacy moderate this relationship. The findings suggest that the most effective model for promoting student agency is a human-centered, blended approach where AI serves as a teacher-enhancement tool.