According to computational neuroscientist Vivian Ming, excessive dependence on AI may reduce gamma wave activity in the brain, potentially leading to a decline in intellectual abilities. Our brains naturally seek easier pathways. Currently, AI simplifies numerous tasks for us, accomplishing processes that normally take a long time in mere moments. However, as this reliance increases, there is an ongoing academic debate about the possibility that humans could lose their creativity and intellectual identity. Undoubtedly, the use of AI has made daily life more convenient, but it also raises concerns about the gradual weakening of our thinking and comprehension skills.
Large language models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude have begun performing tasks that require cognitive effort, prompting serious warnings from some scientists. They argue that outsourcing intellectual work could come at a significant cost to humanity. Researcher Natalya Cosmina from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) observed unusual changes in student behavior. Internship applications began to appear strikingly similar, and students showed an increased tendency to forget information they had previously learned with ease.
Cosmina and her team conducted a study involving 54 students which revealed that those who wrote essays using AI exhibited up to 55% less brain activity compared to those who did not. The brain regions responsible for creativity and information processing were nearly inactive due to AI use. Even more alarming, students who completed essays with AI assistance could not recall what they had written afterward and felt no personal connection to their work. This research confirmed that cognitive offloading — transferring mental tasks to machines — diminishes brain capacity.
Computational neuroscientist Vivian Ming explains that logical and deep thinking is humanity’s greatest strength, but reliance on AI deprives the brain of adequate exercise. Studies have shown that reduced gamma wave activity increases the risk of intellectual decline or dementia later in life. AI has been identified as significantly impacting gamma wave activity. Just as excessive use of Google Maps can weaken an individual’s spatial memory, overusing AI may negatively affect reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Experts do not recommend banning AI entirely but advise changing the way it is utilized. Ming advocates for adopting hybrid intelligence, where humans and machines collaborate, but the main responsibility for thinking remains with people. She suggests several strategies: 1. Nemesis Prompt: Engaging AI as a critic or adversary, forcing it to argue why one’s ideas may be wrong, which helps defend one’s thoughts and encourages deeper thinking; 2. Productive Friction: Avoid letting AI provide direct answers, instead prompting it to ask questions that guide one towards the correct solution; 3. Foundational Education: Teaching basic knowledge of any subject independently of AI first, before seeking AI support afterward.
