The Spread of AI and People Who Stop Thinking
The Shadow of Convenience
As of 2025, ChatGPT’s weekly user count has surpassed 400 million. Compared to hitting 100 million users within just two months of its launch two years ago, this represents tremendous growth. Today, we have AI write our emails, code our programs, and even help us make important decisions.
But here’s a question we need to ask: What are we losing in exchange for all this convenience? Recent research suggests we’re losing far more than we might think.
How Has AI Changed Our Daily Lives?
We wake up to AI assistants briefing us on today’s schedule. On our commute, we read AI-recommended news, and at work, we have ChatGPT draft our reports. Students no longer visit libraries—why would they when AI can provide answers in seconds?
The statistics are even more striking. As of 2024, 78% of companies worldwide use AI for at least one business function, and 75% of knowledge workers use generative AI in their work. ChatGPT processes 2.5 billion prompts daily. We’re already living in a world where life without AI seems nearly impossible.
The Era of Cognitive Laziness
Are we truly thinking anymore?
Our brains, accustomed to “instant answers,” are gradually changing. Recent research by Professor Michael Gerlach from the Swiss Business School reveals shocking results: people who frequently use AI tools show significantly reduced critical thinking abilities.
This phenomenon is particularly pronounced among the 17-25 age group. They rarely question AI-provided answers and are gradually losing their ability to analyze and solve problems independently. One study participant said: “I used to think deeply about problems, but now I just ask ChatGPT. Thinking has become bothersome.”
This isn’t simple laziness. Our brains are designed to conserve energy. When AI provides answers, the brain decides “it’s already solved” and stops the thinking process. This is called “Cognitive Offloading.”
The Decline of Problem-Solving Abilities
According to MIT Media Lab research, ChatGPT users showed minimal activity in 32 brain regions. As the process of finding answers independently disappears, so do opportunities for trial-and-error learning. Programmers now copy and paste AI-generated code without understanding how it works. Students write down answers without understanding the problem-solving process.
Weakening Critical Thinking
The process of verifying AI-provided information is disappearing. A 2025 study found that users who trust AI tools show higher cognitive offloading, significantly reducing engagement in critical thinking processes. We no longer ask, “Is this really correct?”
It refers to delegating cognitive tasks like memory retention, decision-making, and information retrieval to external tools (AI, smartphones, notes) to reduce the brain’s cognitive burden.
The Weakening of Deep Thinking
The average ChatGPT session lasts about 14 minutes. But are we really thinking during this time? The habit of relying only on summarized information is causing our ability to read and analyze lengthy texts to decline rapidly. We’re becoming increasingly accustomed to “TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)” culture.
Crisis in Education
Particularly concerning is the education sector. Research reveals five major negative effects of AI dependency: increased laziness, reduced creativity, weakened critical thinking, decreased independent thinking, and impaired information judgment abilities.
Students no longer search for materials in libraries when doing assignments. When writing papers, they have AI write them instead of conducting their own research. This isn’t just a plagiarism issue—the essential learning process itself is disappearing.
Neuroscientists explain this through the “use it or lose it” principle: unused neural circuits deteriorate. This phenomenon is particularly devastating for adolescents whose cognitive abilities haven’t fully developed yet. It’s like using calculators before mastering basic math.
Finding Balance - Coexisting with AI
Conscious AI Usage
Take time to think for yourself before using AI. When you receive AI answers, verify why they’re correct or might be wrong. Use AI as a discussion partner, not as the final authority.
Critical Thinking Training
Always ask “Is this really true?” about AI-provided information. Practice cross-verifying multiple sources and viewing problems from various perspectives. Always make important decisions yourself.
Pursuing Deep Learning
Value process over quick answers. Don’t forget the worth of reading books, discussing, and experiencing directly. Insights and creativity that AI cannot provide come from these processes.
Time for Educational System Changes
Educational institutions must strengthen AI literacy education. They should teach not just how to use AI, but how to think alongside AI. Research shows that highly educated people tend to maintain critical thinking abilities even when using AI extensively.
Teachers should focus on areas AI cannot replace: creative problem-solving, collaboration, critical analysis, and ethical judgment remain uniquely human domains. Education that develops these abilities is becoming increasingly important.
Education that develops the ability to understand AI technology, use it effectively, and evaluate it critically.
Remaining Thinking Humans
We stand at a crucial crossroads. Will we be captivated by AI’s remarkable abilities and abandon our own, or will we use AI as a tool while preserving our uniquely human thinking abilities?
One researcher warns: “At some point in the future, the need for human critical thinking might decline faster than the cognitive decline caused by AI use. When that happens, humanity’s era as critical thinking leaders on Earth will end.”
But there’s hope. If we make conscious efforts, AI can become a tool that amplifies rather than diminishes our abilities. The key is not losing control.
Practice Guide
Here are specific methods you can practice daily:
• Daily 15-minute thinking training: Solve one problem daily without AI—math problems, cooking recipes, anything.
• Verify AI answers: Check AI-provided information with at least two other sources. Look for errors.
• Long reading challenge: Once a week, read an original text from start to finish, not a summary—papers, novels, anything.
• Discussion and conversation: Have deep conversations with people, not AI. Listen to each other’s opinions and logically agree or disagree.
• Creative activities: Create something without AI help—draw, write poetry, program, or compose music.
In Conclusion
AI can certainly enrich our lives as a tool. But a tool is just a tool. If we stop thinking, even the most excellent tools become meaningless.
The future will be an era of AI-human coexistence. To preserve our value as humans in that era, we must prepare now. Never stopping our thinking—that’s the last bastion we must defend.
How much did you think today? Before asking AI, why not ask yourself first?