A recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has raised concerns about the growing cognitive risks of overdependence on artificial intelligence tools, particularly ChatGPT, in writing and analytical tasks.
The study involved an experiment in which participants were divided into three groups: one used ChatGPT exclusively to write essays, another relied on traditional search engines, while the third wrote without any technological assistance. The results showed that the group using ChatGPT recorded the lowest levels of brain activity in areas associated with memory and analytical thinking.
Researchers introduced the concept of a "cognitive debt," describing the gradual weakening of independent thinking and problem-solving skills due to repeated reliance on AI tools. Participants in the AI-assisted group also showed difficulty recalling or rephrasing their content later, highlighting concerns about long-term retention and comprehension.
Conversely, individuals who wrote their essays without external tools demonstrated higher levels of satisfaction and a stronger sense of intellectual ownership over their work.
In conclusion, the report urges caution in embracing AI technologies as purely positive innovations. It recommends further research to better understand the neurological and cognitive impacts of AI use in everyday activities, particularly in education and creative fields.