In the past, AI has been praised as the greatest tool for humanity since the invention of the internet. With all the hype around it and the implementation of AI tools in even the most niche areas of human productivity, more and more people are noticing a sense of dullness when using them and ask themselves: “Is AI making me smarter, or am I losing my critical thinking abilities?” This question also came to my mind recently, so I decided to look into some studies and discuss AI’s advantages while comparing them to some negative effects that have recently come to light.
Of course, all of us know what an enormous help AI can be when conducting tasks that are mind-numbing and repetitive. The improved productivity and efficiency is therefore the first main point I want to talk about when discussing the advantages of AI: it can automate routine tasks extremely well. One study found that LLM users show an increased overall productivity of around 60%. This load being taken off our minds can free up our mental resources, which can then be used for higher-order thinking.
While AI is amazing at repetitive tasks, it also performs analysis of rich information or complex data sets extremely well. It can identify patterns and offer recommendations, which are already widely implemented in fields like medicine, finance, and engineering. While humans are also able to perform these tasks, the increasing ability of AI to identify patterns, which might even improve in the future, acts as an extremely useful aid for researchers and professionals. This shows again that while AI may often be used as a tool to supplement our own thinking processes, it can also act as a mental crutch to support our most important life aspects.
Lastly, while this text aims to explore whether AI makes us dumber, it cannot be denied that it offers great opportunities for learning and information access. I think everyone who is pursuing a master’s degree at the same time as me can relate to using AI to explain a concept that was poorly explained or rushed through by a professor. Of course, already a few years back, Google was able to give us answers to most questions, but in the age of AI, explanations are offered much more in-depth with information tailored exactly to what we need. But thats not all, AI can even develop a study plan based on your preferences and the study material you provide, something that was unthinkable just a few years ago.
On the contrary, while cognitive offloading may be seen as an incredible opportunity to increase productivity, a study with 666 participants found a significant negative correlation between the ability to think critically and the frequent use of AI tools. Especially among younger people, the risk of becoming dependent on AI should not be neglected, as it can considerably decrease their critical thinking scores.
Critical thinking is not the only area that can be negatively affected by AI. The ability for simple memory retention is strongly influenced by the use of digital support tools. In the past, the so-called “Google Effect” showed that quick and easy access to information online drastically reduces the need to retain information, resulting in overall lower memory retention abilities. Another study found that reliance on GPS in cars and autopilots in airplanes negatively affected spatial memory. Similarly, research has begun exploring the connection between LLMs and information retention from essays. It was found that students who wrote essays using these LLMs had significant difficulties retaining information just minutes after completing them.
Our critical thinking might be challenged in another area as well: bias and lack of transparency. Modern AI tools pose a realistic risk of amplifying existing biases. Many recommender systems use AI to match content to users; these systems learn users’ existing beliefs and opinions and, by recommending similar content, create a kind of “echo chamber” that reinforces preexisting views. Similarly, the “black box” problem highlights how users often blindly trust AI-generated recommendations without understanding the underlying problem, context, or reasoning behind them.
So what can we as students, teachers, and parents do in the future to enable good use of AI capabilities while maintaining our ability to think critically and independently? Firstly, a critical AI education approach must be adopted. People need to learn to question AI outputs and understand the underlying assumptions, which can strengthen cognitive resilience and develop critical thinking skills. Instead of focusing solely on solutions, the process of exploring explanations, considering alternative solutions, and reasoning independently should challenge the answers given by AI.
Next, active learning and critical thinking exercises are extremely important. We cannot lose our ability to make decisions independently by relying entirely on AI tools. In fact, AI can help us improve these skills. By utilizing AI as a tutor that supports the development of critical thinking and metacognitive abilities, we can enhance both ourselves and our capacity to work effectively with AI.
Overall, the integration of AI requires a balanced approach: rather than replacing our cognitive abilities, it should complement them. By applying this hybrid strategy, we can ensure that AI enriches our output instead of fully taking over its production.
References:
Daniel, L. (2025, January 19). New study says AI is making us Stupid—But does it have to? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/larsdaniel/2025/01/19/new-study-says-ai-is-making-us-stupid-but-does-it-have-to/
Gerlich, M. (2025). AI Tools in Society: Impacts on cognitive offloading and the future of critical thinking. Societies, 15(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15010006
Kosmyna, N., Hauptmann, E., Yuan, Y. T., Situ, J., Liao, X.-H., Beresnitzky, A. V., Braunstein, I., & Maes, P. (2021). Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task. In MIT Media Lab.
Rowe, A., & Rowe, A. (2025, June 17). Yet another study finds that AI is making us dumb. Tech.co. https://tech.co/news/another-study-ai-making-us-dumb
