Recent studies conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reveal how the popular chatbot ChatGPT affects human cognitive functions. The results show that excessive use of artificial intelligence can lead to a significant decrease in mental activity and memory deterioration.
According to the researchers, neural activity among users of neural networks dropped from 79 to 42 points, which is a 47% reduction. Moreover, 83.3% of participants who used AI to write texts could not recall a single phrase they had written just a few minutes later. In contrast, users who worked independently showed higher concentration and memory.
The researchers noted the so-called "efficiency paradox": although ChatGPT allows tasks to be completed 60% faster, cognitive load decreases by 32%. This effect may have lasting implications— even after stopping work with AI, subjects exhibited reduced brain activity compared to those who did not use neural networks. Essays created with algorithms, while technically correct, were often described by experts as "soulless" and "robotic."
The scientists concluded that AI has not become a catalyst for mass intellectual progress. In the modern world, they believe, people do not need to think hard for survival—thinking becomes the prerogative of those who create. Without a conscious approach, AI could turn billions of people into passive consumers of content with deteriorating cognitive functions.
The main recommendation from the researchers is that AI should serve as an assistant, not a replacement for thinking. Users who first developed their skills without the support of neural networks and only then began using technology to optimize their knowledge achieved the best results.
