Are We Getting Dumber Because of AI?

Is Generative AI making us dumber?  Two recent studies suggest so.

A study published early this year titled “AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and the Future of Critical Thinking” showed that growing dependence on AI could lead to a decline in critical thinking.   Submitted by Michael Gerlich of the SBS Swiss Business School, the study was based on surveys and interviews of 666 UK participants from different age groups and academic backgrounds.  The problem is more pronounced with younger participants who demonstrated increased reliance on AI to perform routine tasks and scored lower when it comes to critical thinking than their older counterparts.

More recently, a study by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University shared similar findings that the more workers depended on AI for their work, the duller their critical thinking becomes.  The study surveyed 319 knowledge workers who used generative AI at least once a week and examined how and when they apply AI or their critical skills when performing tasks.  The more faith the participant put in genAI to produce acceptable outcome, the less they use their critical thinking skills.  On the other hand, participants who have higher confidence in their abilities than that of AI’s are found to exercise their critical thinking more out of concerns over unintended and overlooked machine output.  

Copyright: Tara Winstead

What is Cognitive Offloading?

Both studies are linking overreliance on AI with cognitive offloading, which is when someone utilizes external tools or processes for completing tasks, resulting in their reduced engagement with deep, reflective thinking.  Yes, AI is improving efficiency and saves time and financial costs, but these studies are suggesting that it could make humans less smart over time.

However, cognitive offloading isn’t new as it existed in a variety of forms throughout time, such as using a calculator instead of performing mental mathematics or simply making a grocery list instead of memorizing all the items you need to buy.  It’s no surprise then that there are questions about the merits of the studies, such as self-reporting bias or how critical thinking was measured.  Forbes suggests that AI isn’t making us dumb but lazy, while another emphasizes that in order for there to be harm to one’s critical thinking abilities, one must have critical thinking to begin with.  

Copyright: Pavel Danilyuk

Rethinking AI Development

Nevertheless, these studies contribute to the conversation regarding the direction of genAI development, now with the nuance of being mindful and respectful of its human users’ intelligence and faculties.  Recommendations include rethinking AI designs and processes which incorporates and engages human critical thinking.  They’re helping bring back focus to AI serving as a tool augmenting instead of overtaking human capabilities.  

For us at Cascade Strategies, we’re glad that these studies have renewed awareness and appreciation of human intelligence and creativity.  Our world could’ve easily devolved into settling for more of the same output so it pleases us to learn that more voices are becoming advocates and proponents not only of the “appropriate use of AI” but also of high level human thinking.  

Featured Image Copyright: Alex Knight

Top Image Copyright: Tara Winstead