lower-order capacities

cheap intelligence

discernment

cognitive atrophy

The proliferation of “cheap intelligence” (more code, text, and images than ever before) means that the skills of discernment, evaluation, judgment, thoughtful planning, and reflection are even more crucial now than before.

It’s certainly possible to use AI in ways that diminish some of our skills, both lower-order capacities such as memory and factual knowledge as well as higher-order skills such as critical thinking.

We know that generative AI doesn’t understand the human context, so it’s not going to provide wisdom about social, emotional, and contextual events, because those are not part of its repertoire.

If a student uses AI to do the work for them, rather than to do the work with them, there’s not going to be much learning. No learning occurs unless the brain is actively engaged in making meaning and sense of what you’re trying to learn, and this is not going to occur if you just ask ChatGPT, “Give me the answer to the question that the instructor is asking.”

A recent MIT Media Lab study reported that “excessive reliance on AI-driven solutions” may contribute” to “cognitive atrophy” and shrinking of critical thinking abilities.