Artificial intelligence (AI)

AI’s Making Us Dumber, and Here’s Why

Look, I’m not saying AI is evil or anything, but it’s messing with our brains, big time. Every day, we lean on tools like ChatGPT or

Look, I’m not saying AI is evil or anything, but it’s messing with our brains, big time. Every day, we lean on tools like ChatGPT or other AI apps to do our thinking for us, and it’s starting to show. Recent studies and chatter on X are sounding the alarm: AI might be making us dumber, not smarter. Let’s break it down with some simple points, backed by the latest research.

1. We’re Letting AI Think for Us

A 2025 study from Societies (check it out here) talked to 666 people in the UK and found something scary. Folks, especially younger ones, who use AI a lot aren’t thinking as deeply. They’re “offloading” their brainwork to AI—basically, letting it solve problems or write stuff for them. This cuts down on critical thinking, the kind where you wrestle with ideas yourself. The study showed that younger users had lower critical thinking scores than older folks who rely less on AI. If we keep handing over our brainpower, we’re gonna lose our edge.

2. Our Brains Are Getting Lazy

MIT did a cool experiment in 2025, watching 54 people write essays with and without AI like ChatGPT. They used brain scans (EEG) to see what’s going on upstairs. Guess what? When people used AI, their brain activity dropped, and their memory circuits got weaker. Without AI, they struggled to brainstorm or solve problems. It’s like their brains forgot how to work hard. The study’s not perfect—small group, not peer-reviewed yet—but it’s a red flag. You can read more here. Ever notice how you can’t remember directions without GPS? Same vibe with AI.

3. We Trust AI Too Much

Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University ran a study in 2025 with 319 workers. They found that people who trust AI tools too much stop thinking for themselves. If you’re using AI to write emails or do research, you might churn out boring, samey stuff. Why? Because you’re not pushing your brain to come up with fresh ideas. The study says this could lead to “cognitive muscle atrophy”—fancy talk for your brain getting flabby. Check it out here. The fix? Use AI as a helper, not a replacement.

4. It’s Part of a Bigger Problem

There’s this thing called the Reverse Flynn Effect—basically, people’s IQs are dropping over time. A 2023 study from Northwestern University pointed to stuff like bad diets or too much screen time, but AI’s getting thrown into the mix now. Experts like Toby Walsh say it’s hard to pin it all on AI, but it’s not helping. When we let AI do our homework or write our reports, we’re skipping the mental workout that keeps us sharp. It’s like never going to the gym and expecting to stay fit.

5. X Is Buzzing About It

People on X are freaking out. A post from @NicHulscher on July 5, 2025, shared the MIT study, saying AI users’ brains are less active. Another user, @RyanHVaughn, called it a “deadly cost” to our thinking on July 8. These posts aren’t hard proof, but they show folks are worried. AIs are everywhere, and we’re starting to see the downsides.

But Wait, It’s Not All Bad

Here’s the thing: AI isn’t the devil. A Psychology Today piece from 2025 (read it here) says it depends on how you use it. If you treat AI like a buddy to bounce ideas off, it can make you better. Like, an HR manager using AI to draft an event plan but tweaking it themselves—that’s smart. The problem is when we let AI do all the work and stop thinking. It’s like using a calculator for 2+2. You gotta keep your brain in the game.

What’s the Deal with History?

This isn’t new. People freaked out when calculators came out, saying they’d ruin math skills. Same with GPS and navigation. Studies show GPS messes with our spatial memory, and AI’s are doing something similar. It’s taking away the mental sweat we need to stay sharp. If we don’t practice thinking, we lose it.

So, What Now?

AI’s here to stay, but we gotta be smart about it. Use it to spark ideas, not to do your job for you. Question its answers. Keep your brain active. The studies are clear: leaning too hard on AI is making us dumber, day by day. Let’s not let our brains turn to mush. Stay sharp, people.

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