This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Students around the world are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to find answers to questions about physics, according to a new study led by researchers at Bar-Ilan University. The study, conducted by Dr.
Yossi Ben-Zion and Omer Michaeli of Bar-Ilan University's Department of Physics in collaboration with Noah Finkelstein of the University of Colorado Boulder, was published in Physical Review Physics Education Research. Analyzing search data from more than 20 countries between 2022 and 2025, the researchers found a consistent decline in Google searches for physics concepts, alongside a similar decrease in visits to related Wikipedia articles, coinciding with the rapid adoption of generative AI tools. "The findings do not suggest that students are learning less," said Ben-Zion.
"Rather, they indicate that many students are shifting from searching across multiple websites to receiving direct, conversational explanations from AI systems." One of the study's most striking findings is the difference between English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries. In the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, Google searches for many physics topics remained relatively stable. In contrast, many non-English-speaking countries experienced substantial declines.
The researchers propose that AI may be acting as an educational equalizer by allowing students to receive clear, high-quality explanations in their native language rather than relying primarily on English-language educational resources. "Generative AI has the potential to reduce the 'language tax' faced by millions of students," the researchers explain. "By making complex scientific concepts more accessible in many languages, these tools may help democratize access to knowledge." The study also found that the transition to AI depends on the nature of the subject matter.
Google searches declined much more sharply for physics topics that can be explained primarily through text and logical reasoning than for topics that rely heavily on diagrams, graphs and other visual representations. According to the researchers, this pattern likely reflects the current strengths and limitations of large language models. While AI excels at generating clear verbal explanations, it remains less effective for learning tasks that require sophisticated visual understanding.
The research was based on Google Trends, Google's platform for tracking relative search activity over time and across countries. The team used searches for physics concepts as a proxy for learning-related information-seeking. To determine whether the observed trend was unique to Google, they also analyzed page views for physics articles on Wikipedia in seven different languages and found similar patterns.
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