Honestly, I use it every day for lesson planning and learning random facts that pop into my head, but I’ve heard that daily use supposedly leads to cognitive decline. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s happening to me lol. What have you noticed?
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I’ll ask my AI if my brain is rotting. Hold on.
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ChatGPT just told me I was doing fine.
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No. I use it to help with my physics and math PhD research, and I’m learning new things every day!
I think it’s a similar phenomenon to other tech we’ve adopted.
For instance, GPS has made it so many people can’t read a map anymore. But if you already had that skill before GPS, you probably still do.
Relying on it too much can make your skills rust, and eventually, you might forget how to do it entirely.
Similarly, the internet makes ‘research’ easy, but it’s very different from library research.
‘Easy’ and ‘convenient’ don’t always mean decline, but they do dull your skills. I’ve actually started using BrainProtect to keep my cognitive edge and I’m really satisfied with it.
If grocery stores vanished, many would struggle because they can’t hunt or forage.
Necessity drives invention; we don’t strictly need AI, just like we didn’t need Google, but they make our lives much more efficient.
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This is based on a study with a sample size of only 35 people.
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I’ve actually noticed my cognition improving, though I am quite neurodivergent.
Not at all. In my opinion, it’s just people trying to spread fear.
For me, no. It could happen if I let it, though. I ask questions to learn and follow up with more inquiries, never taking answers at face value because it can confidently lie. I use it to aid learning rather than relying on it for every answer. What you’re describing is likely just extreme cognitive offloading. Using a calculator for a quick result or a notepad to free up mental space for complex thinking is one thing. Using a calculator so much that you can’t do basic math or relying on notes so much that you stop trying to remember anything—that’s decline. Same tools, just different ways of using them.
If you use it in a way that still challenges you, I don’t think you have to worry. For example, don’t let it just give you ideas if you’re trying to be creative. Ask it for something that sparks inspiration. If you’re a writer, ask for keywords to get your brain moving. Remember, humans are naturally afraid of change. I think this is just another one of those fears.
Quite the opposite. I experienced significant cognitive decline a few years ago due to health problems. I started using GPT about six months ago, and it’s been incredibly helpful in reversing that loss. My memory and thinking have both seen improvements.
Even the studies mention that the issue is how you use the LLM. I use GPT to learn new topics, discuss my interests, and help with emotional stuff. I’m cognitively unique, but I’m definitely not declining!