## 3.1. AI as a study assistant.

Students are increasingly using AI tools as a supplement to traditional study skills. Think of tools like Copilot, Elicit or NotebookLM, which function as digital assistants. These tools can help you structure your thoughts, rewrite texts, or generate ideas. They can be especially useful in the early stages of an assignment, when you're still searching for an angle or structure. Instead of staring endlessly at a blank screen, you can ask GenAI for suggestions for an outline, a sample introduction, or even a list of potential research questions. This lowers the threshold to get started and helps you get to the core more quickly.

In addition, GenAI can also act as a personal study coach. You can use AI to explain complex concepts, generate practice questions, or even help you plan your study work. Some students use AI as a kind of sparring partner: they input an idea and ask for counterarguments or alternative perspectives. This stimulates critical thinking and helps you better substantiate your own viewpoint. It is important, however, that you do not see GenAI as a replacement for your own thinking, but as a tool that supports you in your learning process.