😬 We can’t really ignore it any longer. ICYMIT, a variety of scientific research confirms the reality that improper use of AI – aka offloading things like critical thinking and analysis – can lead to cognitive atrophy. There’s loads of research out there including this one by Michael Gerlich (1) and this recent one from MIT, but we’ve known about it awhile, as this 2023 from Peking University shows us. Even Cornell University’s research just came out.
As you would expect –> if you offload cognitive thinking to AI, your own critical thinking atrophies.
This is horrible news! I love using AI to make my life easier. How can I continue to use AI without losing my critical thinking?
The key is to use AI for cognitive “wall practice”. Like a tennis player who gets better by using a wall to volley back and forth against themselves, use AI to challenge your ideas and spark creative thinking. A debate or forensics buddy, for those once on the debate team.
Examples.
| 👎 Offloading | 👍 Wall Practice |
| “What’s the meaning of the billboard with eyes in the Great Gatsby?” | “I’m trying to figure out the meaning of the billboard with eyes in the Great Gatsby. Be my brain buddy, and ask me guided questions but don’t tell me the answer directly. I gotta understand this within 5 mins.” |
| “Which is a better product: A or B?” | “Help me figure out which product is better: A or B. What questions should I be asking myself?” |
| “Summarize this research paper.” | “I’m most interested the results of this paper, but I don’t want to miss out on key details or contrary thoughts. Be my colleague and engage in a scholarly discussion with me about this paper. Challenge my ideas, point out key things I may have missed, and ask me questions about the implications of the research on my own work.” |
Like strength training, it’s not as easy. It’s sooooo much easier to just ask the AI to do stuff. But that’s where we fall apart –> our brains are designed to want to burn as few calories as possible. It’s always looking for ways to be energy efficient, so it makes sense that asking AI to do stuff for us feels good. We’re wired that way. However, as we know with all physical care, effort in the right places makes us healthier.
(1). Check out Dr. Phillipa Hardman lit review round up. Yee-haw! You should totally subscribe to her if you haven’t already.