New york: The rapid rise and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools into daily life have sparked debates over how constant reliance on these systems hinders deep and critical thinking skills. AI's ability to deliver instant and consistent answers can eliminate the constructive confusion needed in problem-solving, academics and educators argue. Young users, in particular, are now encouraged to leave the thinking to AI large language models (LLMs), they say.
According to Anadolu Agency, critics of AI tools emphasize that these systems should be used as supplementary thinking partners rather than alternatives to thinking. They argue that reliance on LLMs can weaken long-term cognitive skills. ChatGPT, one of the most popular AI chatbots worldwide, was found to reduce brain activity and learning motivation in people who use it over time, according to new research by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The study titled 'Your Brain on ChatGPT' by the MIT Media Lab divided 54 people aged 18-39 into three groups and tasked them with writing simple essays. These groups consisted of the 'LLM group,' 'Search Engine group,' and 'Brain-only group,' as participants used ChatGPT, Google searches, or only their own capacity to write. An electroencephalogram (EEG) test, which measures the electrical activity in the brain, was conducted on the participants. LLM or ChatGPT users were found to have the lowest levels of cognitive engagement and cognitive load.
The research noted that the Brain-only group exhibited the strongest, widest-ranging networks, the Search Engine group showed intermediate engagement, and LLM assistance elicited the weakest overall coupling. ChatGPT users were also found to repeat the same phrases instead of generating original ideas in their third essays, while some participants directly copied AI-generated text and submitted it with minor edits. The Brain-only group, however, showed the highest brain activity and creativity, followed by the Search engine group.
The MIT study warned that regular use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT could risk cognitive erosion for young persons in particular, as these tools bypass the problem-solving, memory reinforcement, and creative thinking stages essential in learning. The researchers of the study said the low levels of cognitive engagement could lead to slower development of critical thinking skills in the long term, thereby turning users into passive consumers.
Avijit Ghosh, an associate researcher at the University of Connecticut, told Anadolu that the instant answers AI can deliver can eliminate the 'productive struggle' or 'productive failure,' which is key in building cognitive strength and developing deep thinking. Ghosh stated that AI can enhance the ability to ask questions when used correctly, while personalized systems reinforce people's already established beliefs, thus reducing the opportunity to encounter different perspectives.
Barbara Oakley, a professor of industrial and systems engineering at Oakland University, explained to Anadolu that prompting questions into AI that require cognitive intelligence may lead to unpredictable consequences. She emphasized that the use of AI without foundational knowledge of the topic at hand leads to an illusion of mastery over the topic. Oakley stated that AI can reinforce existing biases in education while reducing student curiosity in exploring topics or complex subjects like mathematics. She advised that AI should be designed as a thinking partner to guide students to an ideal level of difficulty, at which the most effective learning occurs.