# LAUSD bans generative AI on school devices amid concerns of cognitive stunting in children

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-09-13T09:27:01Z · updated 2026-09-14T16:59:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/study-finds-ai-bans-in-law-classrooms-hurt-student-performance-training-helps

## Summary

Los Angeles Unified School District announced a moratorium on student use of generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, on school‑issued devices for the 2026‑27 year. The decision follows similar restrictions by New York City schools and comes after researchers warned that early exposure to AI could impede critical thinking, likening the effect to "cognitive stunting." Studies cited show children exhibit reduced brain activity in attention‑related regions when using ChatGPT, and high‑schoolers who relied on AI for practice questions performed worse on offline exams.

Experts such as Anne Maheux (UNC‑Chapel Hill) and Rebecca Winthrop (Brookings) argue that without clear evidence of educational benefit, schools should prioritize guardrails. Experiments from Technion and a Turkish high‑school trial suggest AI can act as an "answer machine," boosting short‑term practice scores but harming long‑term learning. District officials plan to develop policy recommendations, acknowledging that rapid AI advances may outpace current safeguards.

The move highlights a growing tension between the promise of AI‑enhanced learning and the risk of skill erosion in young learners, prompting broader debates about how and when to integrate generative AI into K‑12 education.

## Key points

- LAUSD will block generative AI on school devices for 2026‑27, joining NYC in a similar ban.
- Early studies show children using ChatGPT have lower attention‑related brain activity and poorer test performance after AI use.
- Researchers label the phenomenon "cognitive stunting," urging clear evidence before scaling AI tools for youth.

## Why it matters

The policy underscores the need for evidence‑based AI integration in education, balancing innovation with the risk of undermining foundational learning skills for a generation growing up with powerful generative tools.

## Sources

1. ['Cognitive stunting' and the threat AI poses for children's brains](https://yahoo.com/news/us/articles/cognitive-stunting-threat-ai-poses-051833400.html) (yahoo.com, 2026-09-14)
2. [Two-year university study finds banning AI from classrooms leaves students worse off](https://the-decoder.com/two-year-university-study-finds-banning-ai-from-classrooms-leaves-students-worse-off) (The Decoder, 2026-09-13)

Part of the developing story: [AI in Schools Policy and Parental Controls](https://digestai.news/thread/study-finds-ai-bans-in-law-classrooms-hurt-student-performance-training-helps) (2 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "LAUSD bans generative AI on school devices amid concerns of cognitive stunting in children", 13 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/study-finds-ai-bans-in-law-classrooms-hurt-student-performance-training-helps

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