6/21/2025

MIT Research The Dangers of Using AI

MiT researches Dangers of using AI. 

Study proves AI is dulling our cognitive abilities. Brain scans show AI use reduces your memory and critical thinking.

So what do you think?

Marie

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So that is why I forget things! I better quit using AI. It is destroying my ability to produce drivel on my blogs!

A real world example.  Last night I drove from Bloomington to Elgin and back to see friends who were in Chicago for one evening. Once upon a time I would have used maps. Now my phone, using GPS and AI, tells me the route. It took me down twisting little obscure roads at night to shorten the journey.  

Many of us use this technology. And our understanding of how to get from place to place is atrifying.  The horror!

But this does free up some brain memory for doing useful things like watching TV and writing pithy messages on Facebook and blogs.

Craig Hullinger

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Dear Gemini: Write an article defending AI from the MIT research that shows that using AI impacts your memory.

AI: A Tool for Cognitive Augmentation, Not Deterioration

Bradenton, FL – June 21, 2025 – Recent headlines have been dominated by an MIT study suggesting that the use of AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), could negatively impact human memory and cognitive function. While the research presents interesting observations, it's crucial to consider the broader context of AI's role in human cognition and to avoid jumping to alarmist conclusions about our collective intelligence. Far from making us "dumber," AI, when properly understood and utilized, stands as a powerful tool for cognitive augmentation, enhancing our abilities rather than eroding them.

The MIT study's findings, highlighting reduced brain activity and recall in AI-reliant users during specific essay writing tasks, certainly warrant careful consideration. It's plausible that simply offloading an entire task to an AI without active engagement could lead to a shallower processing of information. If users are merely copy-pasting AI-generated text, it stands to reason that they wouldn't internalize the content as deeply as someone who actively researches, synthesizes, and articulates their own thoughts. This isn't a flaw of AI, but rather a misapplication of the tool.

However, framing this as a definitive indictment of AI's impact on memory misses the forest for the trees. The human brain is remarkably adaptive. Just as the invention of the calculator didn't eliminate our ability to do arithmetic, and the internet didn't eradicate our capacity for research, AI is fundamentally changing how we interact with information and solve problems. The shift isn't necessarily a loss, but a re-allocation of cognitive effort.

Consider the following counterarguments to the notion that AI inherently dumbs us down:

1. AI as a Memory Prosthetic and Information Expander: Human memory is fallible. We forget details, struggle with vast amounts of information, and are limited by our processing speed. AI, on the other hand, can act as an unparalleled external memory system. It can recall intricate facts, summarize vast datasets, and synthesize information in ways that would be impossible for an unaided human mind. This frees up our cognitive resources to focus on higher-order tasks like critical analysis, creative problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Instead of memorizing rote facts, we can leverage AI to access them instantly, allowing us to build upon a broader and deeper base of knowledge.

2. Enhancing Critical Thinking and Nuance: The MIT study noted AI-generated essays were often "formulaic." This isn't a surprise. AI, in its current form, excels at pattern recognition and content generation based on existing data. The real skill for humans becomes evaluating, critiquing, and refining AI output. This requires a different kind of critical thinking – discerning bias, identifying logical fallacies, and adding human nuance and originality. This shifts the cognitive burden from mere information recall to higher-level judgment and creative intervention, arguably strengthening our analytical faculties.

3. Democratizing Knowledge and Accelerating Learning: AI can democratize access to information and expertise. For individuals struggling with certain concepts or lacking access to specialized knowledge, AI can provide immediate explanations, summaries, and learning pathways. Personalized AI-driven tutoring systems can adapt to individual learning styles, offering customized instructional strategies that accelerate learning and improve memory retention by focusing on areas where a student needs more support. This makes knowledge more accessible and learning more efficient, ultimately benefiting cognitive development in the long run.

4. Fostering New Forms of Creativity: The "soulless" nature of AI-generated essays in the MIT study might simply reflect the early stage of human-AI collaborative creativity. Just as early photographers mimicked paintings, we are still learning how to effectively leverage AI as a creative partner. AI can generate ideas, suggest alternative approaches, and even produce drafts that serve as a springboard for human ingenuity. This partnership can lead to novel forms of expression and innovation that would be unattainable through human effort alone.

5. The Importance of Balanced Use and "Brain-AI Synergy": The MIT study itself offered a crucial insight: participants who started a task unaided and then used AI for revision showed stronger brain activity than those who started with AI. This suggests that the key lies not in avoiding AI, but in developing a balanced approach. AI should be an augmentation, not a replacement, for human cognitive effort. Educators and individuals must learn to integrate AI strategically, using it to complement and amplify our innate abilities rather than to abdicate our cognitive responsibilities. The future of intelligence lies in a synergistic relationship between human and artificial intelligence, where each enhances the other's strengths.

In conclusion, while the MIT research provides valuable data points for understanding the immediate cognitive effects of certain AI usage patterns, it's vital to view AI through a broader lens. Like any powerful tool, its impact depends on how we choose to wield it. Instead of fearing a decline in memory, we should embrace the opportunity to evolve our cognitive skills, leveraging AI to expand our intellectual frontiers and unlock new levels of human achievement. The challenge is not to retreat from AI, but to learn to dance with it, in a way that elevates human cognition, rather than diminishes it.

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The following article by MiT  researches Dangers of using AI. 
So what do you think?
,.......
Study proves AI is dulling our cognitive abilities. Brain scans show AI use reduces your memory and critical thinking.

A recent MIT study has raised serious concerns about the long-term cognitive effects of relying on AI tools like ChatGPT. 

Using EEG brain scans, researchers tracked 54 students over four months and found that those who consistently used ChatGPT for writing tasks showed significantly reduced brain activity, memory retention, and critical thinking compared to peers using Google or no tools at all. 

Dubbed “The Cognitive Cost of Using LLMs,” the study revealed that AI users not only produced less original work but also struggled to recall their own writing shortly after completing it.

While ChatGPT offered speed and ease, this came at a cost—what researchers called “mental passivity.”

 The study also warned of AI-induced echo chambers, where users accept algorithm-generated responses without questioning their validity. Interestingly, even when AI users switched to unaided tasks, their cognitive engagement remained low.

 In contrast, those who began without assistance later showed heightened brain activity when introduced to tools, suggesting that AI works best as a support—not a substitute—for human thinking.



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