AI risks turning student group work into "siloed cooperation", global study warns

A new report shows that as global employers double down on demand for soft skills, higher education faces a growing paradox: generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving students away from the very peer interactions designed to build those capabilities.

The report was published by the Digital Education Council (DEC) in partnership with Pearson, a British multinational education and publishing company. Titled "Designing AI for Collaborative Learning", the report was published on 27/10/2026 and maps 15 emerging methodologies and six design principles to prevent generative AI from eroding peer debate, critical thinking and essential teamwork skills.

The report highlights that "learning moves into siloed workflows as AI becomes students’ main study partner. Students spend less time…