Interestingly, the smartest students I've worked with do use AI - but more in the sense that AI is a good comparison tool and a good bottom ceiling of the quali

Interestingly, the smartest students I've worked with do use AI - but more in the sense that AI is a good comparison tool and a good bottom ceiling of the quality of work they should bring in. Lots of research shows being able to see different answers improves the quality of a student's output - especially as the good ones are able to pick out what's good from the other work and then add their own insights or takes on top.