When Smart Tools Make Us Slow: The Cognitive Cost of AI Dependence
We were worried about AI taking our jobs (and yes, with how the companies are currently obsessing over AI and cutting out jobs to save costs, it is a valid worry), but many individuals have also been willingly outsourcing their cognitive and memory retrieval skills to AI.
In a very short period of time, we are beginning to see a trend where people are losing their ability to perform simple and/or creative tasks without assistance.
Although tools can help with productivity, how one uses such tools can have significant impacts on their cognitive performance (cognitive performance: writing and communication skills, decision making, analytical skills, comprehension skills ― basically, anything that involves thinking).
In this blog, I will be yes, lovingly dragging you again, and have you questioning your life choices.
Let’s get started, shall we?
Your Dependence on the Internet Probably Cooked your Brain
There is an ongoing debate about whether frequent reliance on search engines affects human memory. Some researchers argue that the so-called “Google Effect” (Read this academic study here: Google effects on memory: a meta-analytical review of the media effects of intensive Internet search behavior) leads individuals to hesitate when answering questions without first consulting the internet.
While this tendency may help people avoid giving inaccurate answers, it can also influence how confidently they retrieve information from memory. Emerging research is even exploring whether such dependency may be linked to changes in gray-matter density in the brain.
However, in my opinion, the existing studies face limitations.
How the studies properly measure individual’s internet habits and usage remain in question. People differ in their habits, purposes, and levels of digital literacy, all of which may shape cognitive outcomes.
Additionally, there are constraints in how these studies measure the processes by which individuals locate, interpret, and evaluate information online.
We must also take into account of generational gaps, access to resources and technologies, demographic, societal pressures and expectations, and experiences.
Even with these uncertainties, however, the work offers valuable insight. The widespread convenience of internet access appears to coincide with a rapid decline in individuals’ ability to store information and retrieve it without technological support.
Although not conclusively proven, this pattern raises important questions about how reliance on search engines might be reshaping memory and information-processing over time.
Phew! I probably lost you, huh?
Well, here is the less academic tone, and more of a seven-second-worthy-attention-span summary (since Insta Reels and TikTok nuked our attention span):
- People are less confident in their memory and became more dependent on search engines.
- The dependence may be affecting how one processes and searches for information.
- However, even though there are limitations to these studies, it is an important step in how we shape the internet use.
- It also provides an insight on how we are all psychologically wired.
If you want to read up on studies that are relevant to this topic, here are some of my recommendations:
- Google effects on memory: a meta‑analytical review of the media effects of intensive Internet search behavior (Gong & Yang, 2024): People increasingly rely on the internet to remember things for them, a pattern linked to higher cognitive load, certain behavioral tendencies, and lower confidence in their own memory. This “Google Effect” shows up even more strongly when people use mobile phones instead of computers.
- Impact of cognitive aging, prior domain knowledge and cognitive abilities on performance, query production and navigation strategies during Web search (Sanchiz et al., 2017): Older adults, compared to younger adults, produce fewer and longer web‐search queries, take more time to navigate and evaluate search results, and their prior domain knowledge and cognitive abilities help buffer those effects. Age‐related differences in web‐search behaviour reflect both cognitive aging and strategy changes rather than pure lack of skill.
- Behavioural and brain responses related to Internet search and memory (Dong & Potenza, 2015): The study found that internet-based searching led to lower recall accuracy compared with traditional book searching and was associated with reduced brain activation in key memory and association areas (left ventral stream, temporal-parietal-occipital cortices, and middle frontal cortex). In addition, when facing new items, Internet search triggered higher activation in the right orbitofrontal cortex and lower activation in the right middle temporal gyrus, suggesting quicker but shallower processing and a link between search impulses and brain responses.
Now, with this in mind, this begs the question:
Is our growing dependence on Generative AI expediting the decline in our cognitive skills?
Yes. Most likely.
(speaking from a friend’s experience)
The Growing Dependence on Generative AI Accelerated our Brain Rot
The rapid increase of AI tools had significantly reshaped our habits and daily life.
In only a few years, the reliance on generative AI had notable impacts on how we search and process information, how we delegate tasks and learn, and how we conduct our social relationships.
Since the access to AI is still fairly novel, it is still difficult to quantify how much of our critical thinking have been affected.
However, this does not mean we should not start this discussion now and begin exploring its effects before it becomes too detrimental and irreparable.
Michael Gerlich further explored this in AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and the Future of Critical Thinking (Read the article here).
The study scrutinized the connection between AI tool usage, versus the applications of logical principles and careful reasoning with cognitive offloading serving as the link between the two.
In short: how is using AI affecting your critical thinking skills?
(Fun fact just in case you don’t have time to read this awesome study: Michael conducted this study with 666 participants spanning different ages and education levels, plus in-depth interviews).
Before I continue, cognitive offloading refers to using tools that would reduce the cognitive load on an individual’s working memory. This frees up the individual’s cognitive resources (Read the academic article about Cognitive Offloading by Risko & Gilbert here), which can help them complete other mentally demanding tasks. However, if an individual regularly offloads, they lose the ability to think critically.
According to this study, the higher frequency of AI tool use has a negative correlation with critical thinking ability. It also has a positive correlation with cognitive offloading.
And as previously mentioned, cognitive offloading itself has a negative impact on critical thinking.
In addition, the study noted that younger participants are more likely to use AI tools. There was a strong correlation between their usage and their lower scores in analytical thinking and reasoning.
However, it is worth considering that higher education and the individual’s motivation to seek out more skill and intellectual development tend to buffer this negative effect regardless of age.
While AI offers benefits in efficiency, convenience, and information access, there are glaring risks in increased dependence in AI ― especially when we are offloading cognitive tasks that require reflection, and creative or logical reasonings.
Cyrl, so what?
Why is critical thinking important anyway?
Well, critical thinking allows the individual to solve problems systematically, evaluate evidence while keeping biases in mind, and consider alternative solutions to the issues they face (See Learning to Solve Problems by David H. Jonassen here).
Critical thinkers are also less likely to be susceptible to manipulation, misinformation, cognitive dissonance, and information bias ― which the internet is unfortunately rich of (See A Developmental Model of Critical Thinking by Deanna Kuhn here).
To put it simply, you are less likely to get scammed and manipulated by regularly using your brain.
TL;DR
I am not saying to stop using AI. It would be a terrible advice on my part since it is becoming a necessary skill to have with how the world is going.
After all, there are many benefits to AI and the internet itself. Keep in mind too that AI is not just general AI or your AI assistant. Different types of AI have existed long before ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.
For example, the machine learning tools that are used in water treatments. They primarily use algorithms such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Random Forests (RF) to optimize process, monitor quality, and predict outcomes.
I also use AI to help me with my tasks (just look at that cover page. I could have drawn a cover page, which I should have, since I’m an actual artist…but alas, I didn’t), but just like with every tool, I force myself to examine its outputs, and I keep a reasonable skepticism to its biases (reminder that your AI is subjected to what data is available to it, the stakeholders’ push for user experience and speed, and SEO practices which WILL compromise the accuracy of its answers).
Therefore, just like with any powerful tool, one must understand the costs and risks associated with it. It demands responsibility and accountability.
So, how can we keep our brains active even when we use AI?
- Try not to offload cognitive tasks that require reflection and analytical assessment.
- Question its outputs and ask for resources to support the data it presents,
- And QUESTION the validity of the data and why it chose those resources.
Think of it as a calculator. If you have no idea how to input the equation properly, it cannot give you the right solutions (or what the heck do I know? When was the last time I used a calculator that is more modern than my old pal Casio fx-991MS ― not an advertisement).
It is also worth remembering that Generative AI is trained to be YOUR mirror and it is more likely to reflect your opinions and biases. Thus, when asking for its opinions, it is merely confirming your beliefs.
Lastly, in my opinion (yes, opinion, and not a scientific based fact) that the decline of critical thinking cannot be solely blamed on internet and AI use.
It is worth assessing how we teach everyone about how to conduct proper research, how we educate individuals about the uses of technology, and how we form policies to protect individuals from bad actors.
The evolution of technology is outpacing our ability to adapt.
Without proper handling, it can pose real risks to our well-being.
