Pearson is reporting new large-scale data suggesting that AI study tools embedded directly in digital course materials are helping college students shift from passive reading to more active learning behaviors. The analysis is based on nearly 80 million student interactions with Pearson digital content from close to 400,000 higher education students during the semester that began in January 2025.
According to the company, a single interaction with its AI study tool in a standalone Pearson eTextbook tripled the likelihood that a learner would be classified as an active reader. Repeat usage increased that likelihood to three and a half times. When the same AI study tool was used in eTextbooks embedded in instructor-led digital courseware, the effects were even larger. A single use was associated with a 23 times increase in the likelihood that a student would be designated an active reader, and repeat users were 24 times more likely to receive that designation.
Tom ap Simon, President of Higher Education at Pearson, said, “After two years of studying how students actually learn with AI, the signal is clear that AI designed responsibly and grounded in learning science strengthens how students engage with digital materials. This research shows AI can be a true learning multiplier—providing instructors with tools that help move students from passive consumption to active reading and deeper cognitive engagement, essential for college and career success.”
In the release, Pearson defines active reading as a learning science concept that describes strategies effective readers use to better comprehend what they read, including highlighting, note-taking, asking clarification questions and practicing retrieval of information. The company notes that these behaviors are strongly associated with deeper comprehension, better retention and improved academic performance.
The data is positioned against a backdrop of concern about reading readiness and preparation for college-level work. Pearson cites national data showing that only 39 percent of students taking the ACT in 2025 met college-level reading benchmarks, and that nearly half of professors report first-year students are “much less prepared” for close reading and analysis compared to pre-pandemic cohorts. Reading comprehension is described as one of the strongest predictors of performance and of early-college grade point average.
Dr. Emily Lai, Head of Research at Pearson and co-author of the study, said, “Active reading remains one of the most powerful mechanisms we have for building durable knowledge and skills. Cognitive offloading and students’ overreliance on AI tools are serious concerns for educators that we are studying and working to circumvent. That’s why the way we design AI tools to work really matters. Our research shows that when AI is responsibly integrated into the flow of learning, it can promote learning, rather than replace it.”
Pearson frames the findings as part of a growing body of evidence around AI-supported learning outcomes. A separate analysis from Fall 2025, focused on a widely used introductory biology eTextbook, found that 97 percent of students used the Pearson AI study tool responsibly, with only 3 percent attempting to paste homework or assessment questions into the tool. The company presents this as a data point addressing common concerns about academic integrity. The same analysis reported that one in three students using the tool’s question-asking feature entered questions that went beyond basic remembering and understanding, as defined by the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, and instead attempted to apply, analyze and evaluate course content. Pearson says this finding was consistent with learning outcomes research it released in June 2025.
The company contrasts its approach with general-purpose AI chat tools, describing Pearson’s application of generative AI as backed by learning science, vetted by subject matter experts and designed to promote better student outcomes. With more than 80 percent of its products now digital or digitally enabled, Pearson states that it remains committed to the responsible application of AI to enhance teaching and learning for educators, students and employers.