Women in Afghanistan and other areas where formal education is restricted are increasingly turning to AI as a learning companion. A remote study involving 20 women in the country notes that Generative AI is used less as a search engine and more as a peer, mentor and source of career advice. However, the women also report privacy and surveillance risks and an “illusion of progress” because AI provides direct answers rather than fostering learning and critical thinking. The authors say they hope the study will prompt developers to create technology to help marginalized learners build genuine skills rather than just deliver straightforward answers.
