We investigate the potential risks and benefits for students utilising Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI), specifically OpenAI’s ChatGPT and GitHub’s Copilot, to generate solutions instead of independently creating them in the traditional educational setting. The rapid advancements in GAI have transformed numerous domains, including software development and software engineering education. While these tools offer unprecedented convenience and efficiency, there are growing concerns regarding their potential implications for academic integrity and genuine student learning. We report on a pilot study in which 40 students, who completed a first-semester course on object-oriented programming, re-engage in a comparable programming project in limited time using GAI tools. In this pilot study, we aim to assess the extent to which students can rely on GAI tools to generate solutions for large programming assignments, to investigate the impact of AI-driven code generation on students’ understanding of fundamental programming concepts and problem-solving abilities, and to explore the perspectives of educators and students on the implications and long-term consequences of integrating AI-assisted coding tools in the learning process.