Key Points:
- Pearson AI study analysis shows AI tools in digital textbooks significantly increase active reading and student engagement.
- Instructor-led digital courses see even stronger results, with repeated AI use greatly boosting learning behavior.
- Most students used the tools responsibly, supporting critical thinking rather than replacing independent effort.
A new Pearson AI study analysis shows that artificial intelligence study tools built into digital learning materials can significantly improve how students engage with academic reading. The findings are based on nearly 80 million student interactions collected from global course platforms.
The company reviewed learning activity from close to 400,000 students who used its digital course materials during the academic term that began in January 2025. The results suggest that students interact more deeply with learning content when artificial intelligence tools are placed directly within textbooks and course systems.
AI Study Tools Linked To Active Reading Growth
According to the Pearson AI study analysis, even a single interaction with its artificial intelligence study assistant inside a digital textbook increased the chance that a student would demonstrate active reading behavior by three times. Students who used the tool repeatedly were 3.5 times more likely to show the same learning patterns.
The effect was stronger in structured digital courses guided by instructors. A single use of the tool increased the likelihood of active reading behavior by twenty-three times. Students who returned to the tool multiple times were twenty four times more likely to meet the same learning standard.
Active reading includes actions such as highlighting key ideas, writing notes, asking questions, and recalling information from memory. These behaviors help students understand concepts better and retain knowledge for longer periods. Educators often link these practices with stronger academic performance across subjects.
Tom ap Simon, President of Higher Education at Pearson, said the company has spent two years studying how learners interact with artificial intelligence tools. He noted that carefully designed systems can encourage deeper engagement instead of passive reading habits.
Reading comprehension remains one of the strongest indicators of academic success in college-level study. However, readiness levels continue to decline. Pearson noted that only 39 percent of students taking the ACT in 2025 met expected reading benchmarks, while many instructors report that new students struggle with detailed analysis compared with pre pandemic cohorts.
Design Aims To Support Responsible AI Use
The Pearson AI study analysis stated that its artificial intelligence tools are designed to guide learning rather than complete work for students. The company aims to reduce cognitive offloading, where learners depend too heavily on automated assistance instead of practicing thinking skills.
Emily Lai, Head of Research at Pearson and a study contributor, explained that active reading remains essential for building durable knowledge. She said responsible design helps ensure artificial intelligence promotes understanding instead of replacing effort.
A separate analysis conducted during the Fall 2025 term examined usage patterns in an introductory biology digital textbook. Pearson found that 97 percent of students used the artificial intelligence study tool appropriately. Only three percent attempted to submit homework or assessment questions directly into the system.
The study also showed that one in three students asked complex questions that required applying or evaluating course concepts rather than recalling simple facts. These behaviors align with higher levels of learning described in Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Pearson reported that more than 80 percent of its learning products are now digital or digitally enabled. The large dataset used in the Pearson AI study analysis may influence how universities and educators evaluate the role of artificial intelligence in classroom materials.
For teachers and students, the discussion is shifting toward how tool design shapes learning behavior. Overall, the Pearson AI study analysis suggests that when artificial intelligence supports study habits within course content, it can strengthen engagement and encourage deeper academic thinking.