AI (GEN AI) tools like ChatGPT have become a permanent part of the lives of many personal and work. And whether they cause more harm than our cognitive skills or problem solving is an increasing source of concern. Experts are concerned that relying on Gen AI makes users who are highly dependent on these “Dumber” tools, according to research results.
In a modern paper, a team of Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon found the University of that “”Supreme confidence in GEN AI is associated with less monetary thinkingWhile high self -confidence is associated with more critical thinking “between a group of 319 knowledge workers from a wide range of fields.
Their results have shown that although the Gen AI tools can improve efficiency in work, they may “prevent critical participation with work and can lead to excessive dependence in the long term on the tool and decrease skill to solve independent problems.”
Decrease in critical thinking skills
This declining “analytical post” translates into the lowest fact -real examination, and more time to read through the text created from artificial intelligence rather than creating content, among more.
For Anjali Singh, a post -PhD fellow at the University of Texas, Austin who has not participated in the study, this distance from creative tasks, and leads to emptying her to Gen AI instead, is one of the main concerns emanating from this paper.
“If you are doing less than this type of skills, your critical thinking is likely to be negatively affected,” says Singh.
Unfortunately, though, the answer to this question is more complicated. Singh believes that “the effect of artificial intelligence on perception really depends on how we use it and those who use it,” Singh believes.
It also indicates that Microsoft’s study focused on professionals and experts in their field. Its research related to “beginners”, a group that can include students or new people in a profession or field.
“The Gen AI tools can be especially harmful,” she says, as they may depend on them to carry out more tasks, or “thinking” on behalf of experts in their field. “As a result, in the long run, it can lead to a decrease in any type of cognitive skills they use in a specific context, and how to use it.”
Read more: Artificial intelligence and the human brain: How similar is?
Artificial intelligence in education
Another paper published in 2024, for example, found university students facing “high levels of academic work and time compression” He resorted to the use of Chatgpt more frequentlyUltimately increases the levels of procrastination, which affects their memory, and hurting degrees among some of the research participants.
On the other hand, others are enthusiastic about Gen AI’s capabilities to help build cognitive skills, or make us smarter, with other studies that emphasize a positive effect in some cases.
A study published last year, for example, found that the merger of Chatgpt into the semester led to significant improvements in “critical, creative and reflexive thinking” for some of those who did not use it.
“With the continued growth of technology in education, we suggest that Chatgpt can be a valuable mechanism for academics In higher education, “researchers wrote.
They are not alone in supporting ChatGPT and similar tools in educational settings. Rossila Soriano, a researcher in the Department of Cognitive, Psychological, Educational and Cultural Sciences at the University of Maysina, led a study I found a positive effect on chatting on critical thinking skills.
“The study highlighted that the interaction with Chatgpt can already enhance the development of complex monetary thinking skills,” said Soriano. However, from her point of view, this also depends on how these tools are used.
“This research indicates that its use is effectively and consciously, Chatgpt can become a valuable tool for developing advanced cognitive skills in an educational environment,” she says.
How to work with artificial intelligence tools
For Soriano, this means understanding how it works, and most importantly, recognizing its restrictions. Just as we do, or we should not necessarily, believe everything we read via the Internet, or tell us a person.
And she adds: “The claim we provide and the position we publish deeply affects the response.” Instead of shrinking the cognitive capacity, when used properly, these tools can actually “enhance our ability to think and meditate independently.”
There is still a lot to learn a lot of research looking at the effect of Gen Ai-whether useful or harmful-on our cognitive abilities in the short term in nature; Singh, especially when it comes to younger people, this is a problem that must be solved.
“Even for experts, we have not yet seen what the effect of Gen AI in the long run,” says Singh. “There was not enough time to see the type of effect that these tools will make on our awareness.”
Unfortunately, this means any answer to the issue of whether ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence makes us somewhat mysterious, huge; It could be the case, but it may also make us smarter, if it is used in the “right” way.
Read more: The pros and cons of artificial intelligence
condition sources
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Sean Mogabray is an independent writer in Scotland. It covers the environment, archeology and public science topics. His work also appeared in outlets like Mongabay, New Scientist, Hakai Magazine and old History magazine and others.