Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, artificial intelligence has evolved rapidly from conversational tools to autonomous systems that reason, act, and learn independently. This represents a fundamental shift from AI as a classroom presence to educational infrastructure. However, the industry’s response—consisting largely of superficial wrapper tools, learning guides, and study modes—often optimises for engagement and efficiency rather than deep learning. By removing the cognitive friction necessary for knowledge acquisition, these tools risk systematically eroding human learning capacity.