NEW YORK: Experts are warning that the growing use of artificial intelligence for everyday thinking tasks could have unintended consequences, potentially eroding critical thinking, creativity, and decision-making skills. While AI tools are becoming increasingly common in classrooms, workplaces, and homes, overreliance on them may encourage people to accept machine-generated answers without question.
At the center of the concern are AI systems designed to assist with problem-solving, analysis, and content creation. From drafting essays and coding to generating business reports, these tools can complete complex tasks in seconds. Researchers caution, however, that constant reliance on AI may reduce human effort to verify information, analyze solutions, or think independently.
Studies show that students who overuse AI for academic work often demonstrate weaker analytical skills, reduced writing proficiency, and less ability to critically evaluate information. Similarly, workplace research indicates that professionals relying too heavily on AI tools may overlook errors or inconsistencies, leading to flawed decision-making. “When users believe AI is almost always correct, they naturally stop double-checking,” said one cognitive science expert.
The problem is compounded by human cognitive biases. People tend to trust outputs presented in a clear and authoritative format, even when the AI is wrong. This can create an “illusion of competence,” where users feel confident in the correctness of AI-generated results, while their own thinking skills gradually weaken.
AI pioneers like Stanford professor Fei-Fei Li emphasize that artificial intelligence should augment, not replace, human intelligence. Similarly, AI researcher Yoshua Bengio warns that overreliance could create power imbalances and amplify errors when a few organizations control large AI systems.
Experts recommend what they call “appropriate reliance,” where AI is used as a supportive tool rather than a substitute for human judgment. Solutions include explanatory AI interfaces, digital literacy training, and keeping humans actively involved in decision-making processes, especially in high-stakes fields like medicine, law, and finance.
With AI tools increasingly embedded in daily life, the debate over their impact on human cognition is intensifying. Researchers say that while AI can be a powerful assistant, preserving our ability to think critically and creatively remains essential.
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