Speed is AI's clearest advantage in feedback — but speed and quality aren't the same thing, and the difference matters more in feedback than almost anywhere else in teaching.
Fast feedback that's generic isn't better feedback
"Good effort, consider expanding your argument" generated in two seconds isn't more useful than the same generic line written by a tired human. Speed only helps if the content improves too.
AI is strongest at consistency
Where AI-assisted feedback clearly wins is consistency — every student gets feedback against the same standard, without the drift that happens naturally by submission 40 at 11pm.
The best use is a draft you personalize
Let AI produce a first pass grounded in your rubric and notes, then spend your saved time adding the specific, personal observation only you would notice — that's where real feedback value lives.
Students can tell the difference
Feedback that's purely AI-generated with no personal touch is increasingly easy for students to spot — and it undermines the trust that makes feedback effective in the first place.