Dependence on AI weakens thinking

[jAcos]

Dependence on AI weakens critical thinking...




I dont' use much of AI. Only some photo edits because it is fast. But the study of Microsoft and others are a concern. Do you depend on AI everyday?


From "Shut it all down? Microsoft research suggests AI usage is making us feel dumber but you don't need to panic yet" -- by Hamish Hector, published February 13, 2025 - techradar.com

 

-Article 1-

Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University published research that says AI is causing the deterioration of cognitive faculties. The study involved 319 people who use AI tools at work at least once per week The survey-based study opens the door to deeper research into AI side effects Brain rot is usually associated with endless doom scrolling of low-quality online content, but a new Microsoft Research study suggests that overusing AI might be causing the deterioration of cognitive faculties. Oh no.

It found that while GenAI can improve worker efficiency, it can inhibit critical engagement with work and can potentially lead to long-term overreliance on the tool and diminished skill for independent problem-solving. The study added that people's jobs are becoming less about solving problems and more about making sure the AI has correctly solved the problem morphing our work from task execution to task stewardship which led people to feel like their ability to think critically isn't as sharp as it was before they started using AI.

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From "Using AI reduces your critical thinking skills, Microsoft study warns" by Ben Turner, published April 4, 2025 - livescience.com

-Article 2-

A survey of workers who use AI has revealed the tools could be slowly impairing our critical thinking skills. Artificial intelligence (AI) could be eroding its users critical thinking skills and making them dumber, a new study has warned. The research a survey of workers in business, education, arts, administration and computing carried out by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University found that those who most trusted the accuracy of AI assistants thought less critically about those tools conclusions.

On its own, this isn't really that surprising, but it does reveal a trap lurking within AI is growing presence in our lives: As machine learning tools win more trust, they could produce dangerous content that slips by unnoticed. The researchers will present their findings at the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems later this month, and have published a paper, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, on the Microsoft website.

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[harlan4096]

I don't use any AI service, at least consciously, but it is true that we use services that use some type of AI algorithm, but personally I do not use any ChatGPT Service or similar.

[jasonX]

I tested using AI like Gemini and Copilot of Microsoft for a time. Compared the content that both gave and then compared the info from my own research. The content that both AI engines gave were NOT perfect as being touted. A lot of the info are wrong from my research data. The AI data was also seen/checked by the developer who encouraged me to use AI in my work. They too underlined that wrong data given. So I stopped and disregard the suggestions. 

I also tried the AI of 'Canva" for graphics creation but I could not get around to what it wants to give me and the scheme I want 'Canva' does not want to apply because my account is free. Again, I stopped using it and just glanced from the site from time to time to get ideas then I create my own. 

AI is creeping in our lives. As harlan4096 puts it, we may have been using AI all the while without knowing because most sites/apps apply AI to make things faster, cheaper etc. Even the employees of the BPO industry are now in danger because the call-center operations are going AI. Then there is the animation and movie industry. Seems AI is winning and big industries are all embracing it mostly for cost cutting.

It is on us to discern how will we use AI properly (if we need to use it). The Gen Z's are head bent on using it always because it makes their work faster. Have encountered young individuals bragging about their edited videos using AI but when you asked them "how did they did it" -- they can't even explain what has been applied, how the filter has been corrected, how did they remedy the ghost that almost always surfaces when you use 'green screen'. AI just automated it for them and they are proud of their achievements. 

I wonder the kids from 10 towards the adolescents who use AI for their homework and term papers will be? Most kids dislike Math and use AI because of it. ....There lies the rub.

I do not see myself relying on AI (yet) perhaps when I have dementia sickness or something...I still like to use my brain (what's left of it).