A recent study by MIT's Media Lab found that frequent use of artificial intelligence can decrease human cognitive activity. The research highlights how our brains rely less on critical thinking and problem-solving when we overuse AI tools. According to the study, individuals who first attempt to solve problems on their own and only then use AI do not experience this cognitive decline.
The study tracked 54 participants over four months and used EEG-based brain scans to measure neural activity during writing tasks. Researchers discovered that the groups exhibited different levels of neural connectivity, reflecting different strategies employed by the brain to write up assignments. The more support the subjects had, the less hard their brains seemed to work.
The findings suggest that relying solely on AI for tasks like writing can reduce brain activity and memory. Participants who used ChatGPT showed notably lower activity in key brain regions and were less able to perform cognitive tasks when asked to go ChatGPT-free. The study also found that users who started with their own cognitive effort and employed ChatGPT later maintained stronger memory, engagement, and creativity.
The research raises concerns about the long-term educational implications of AI reliance and underscores the need for deeper inquiry into AI's role in shaping our cognitive abilities. As AI is used increasingly in schools, colleges, and everyday life, the researchers have highlighted a "pressing matter" of a "likely decrease in learning skills".
