Is AI Making Us Dumber? Study Reveals Critical Thinking Decline

[Vol-TE]

A recent study by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University reveals alarming effects of generative AI on critical thinking among knowledge workers. As employees increasingly rely on AI for everyday tasks, their critical thinking skills weaken. The study, involving 319 participants from diverse fields, found that confidence in AI's capabilities directly correlates with reduced critical thinking engagement. Workers often leaned on AI for trivial tasks or under time pressure, neglecting opportunities to exercise their cognitive abilities. Researchers warn that over-reliance on automation may ultimately impair our mental agility when faced with complex challenges.

Do you think AI is hindering our cognitive skills? How can we balance AI use with critical thinking?

Source: https://www.extremetech.com/interne...ulls-your-cognitive-abilities-microsoft-finds

 

[Futureized]

their critical thinking skills weaken

In my opinion, they have started using AI extensively, to solve complex things users are taking use of AI
I have seen same trend in educations, students who know about AI are taking much better use of AI to simplify there answers and understand properly. (with less needs for them to think critically)

 

[TEUser2K1]

Were people dumbed down because they used search engines ?

 

[burntwingzZz]

Were people dumbed down because they used search engines ?

search engines exposed us to lot of related articles as well , similar to library , yo go to search for a book but you also observe some other books which might catch your attention and you might read .with chat gpt you get exact or near accurate answers which restricts one of the most human aspect "comming across new thing which might lead a person to think about it and if interest stays you think upon it leading to deep thinking /critical thinking .Its like playing puzzle or rubiks cube .some try and leave it , take time and solve it and never play and some play it competitively and have fun.


something similar is happening in modern chess and magnus to some extent right to play freestyle or very short duration of chess instead of classical . Due to computers in chess aetc

 

[Fenix]

Take this with a grain of salt, lads—this data is questionable.

In total, the researchers collected 936 first-hand examples of how workers reportedly used generative AI in their jobs.
However, the reliability of this data is highly doubtful.