Do you rely on the use of AI prompts for quick searches and gaining information? It is slowly corrupting your cognitive abilities, intrinsic motivation and problem-solving skills.
Explore how AI is negatively affecting human cognition and how to counter it.
What are AI prompts?
AI prompts are known as text-based commands that are given to AI tools by humans for eliciting desired responses. The command contains all the significant details relating to the task or topic one wants information about.
Moreover, AI prompts can range from a simple set of instructions to precise and targeted questions for achieving better output. However, the overreliance on AI tools and prompts is raising huge concerns about the future of humans’ cognitive abilities.
Is the use of AI tools affecting humans’ critical thinking?
We can explore the negative effects of AI on the human mind within industries through some official studies.
Impacts of AI in Education
The MIT institute published a study on the use of ChatGPT for essay writing earlier in the year 2025. The study was conducted by Nataliya Kosmyna using 54 participants and 3 groups for recording brain development activity with EEGs.
The research groups for the MIT study included:
- LLM Group who were allowed to use AI tools for essay writing.
- Search-engine groups who use Google and other browsers for research and development.
- The Brain-only group was asked to write the SAT essays without any reliance on internet or AI tools.
The results of the study showed that overreliance of AI in education can be harmful for young learners. Moreover, BBC reported that the LLM focused groups showed a lower level of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Impacts of AI in Workplace
According to the Harvard business review, the institute conducted 4 research studies with 3500 research participants. The studies were conducted to analyse the impact of AI usage in the workplace.
The research participants performed tasks like social media post creation, email generation and idea brainstorming. The participants were required to use generative AI or LLMs in one set.
The results concluded that even though the use of generative AI tools increase productivity, it reduces humans’ intrinsic motivation. Motivation is linked with psychology and human cognition and is essential for professional and personal development for human beings.
What is cognitive offloading?
Cognitive offloading is the process where humans rely on the use of tools and helping resources for reducing mental strain. Moreover, it is used by humans for enhancing their cognitive abilities. The primary example of cognitive offloading is the use of calculators for solving mathematical problems.
However, according to Michael Gerlich people who use AI for cognitive offloading have lower critical thinking abilities than others. Moreover, the negative impacts of AI such as cognitive offloading are affecting young AI users more than adults.
Gerlich studies reported that using prompt writing and AI outputs to bypass cognitive activity is the biggest AI risk. This is why he emphasised on the balanced use of AI to reduce negative effects on the human mind.
AI education is important before allowing the use of such tools in industries like education, healthcare and finance. Just like how kids are taught basic mathematical principles before using calculators.
How to counter AI effects on cognition?
Here’s a list of ways in which industries can decrease the negative effects of AI on human cognition:
Focus on Human-AI collaboration
Human-AI collaboration is best for enhancing the quality of work without damaging human cognition and intrinsic motivation. It involves using personal insights for refining AI-generated content.
Emphasise on AI Education
Institutes should focus on AI training and programs for students or workers to achieve the best results.
Focus on Creating than Consuming
Reliance on consuming content from AI tools worsen the cognitive state of one’s mind. Users should focus on using AI content as their starting point for building something by using their creativity.
Use Task rotation
Educational institutes and workplaces should use task rotation and assign challenging and engaging tasks after the completion of AI tasks.
Learning Attitude is essential while using AI prompts and tools
According to Russela Sunrio, AI can not only hinder but also enhance cognitive abilities, if used the right way. She stressed that our attitude and the right usage of AI prompts and tools can help us with personal growth.
Moreover, according to Michael Gerlich, AI can’t damage cognitive ability when humans are actively engaged and use critical thinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the 30% rule for AI?
The 30% rule for AI stemmed from the emphasis on human-gen AI collaboration for ethical and effective use. Educational institutes are implementing this 30% rule to limit the negative effects of AI on student’s minds.
Moreover, this approach focuses on reducing the side-effects of cognitive offloading and promotes a balanced use of AI.
Q. What are the negative effects of AI?
Even though AI is evolving the future of many industries with automation, it also has several risks including:
- Lack of employment opportunities due to overreliance on AI tools and automation.
- Increase in AI bias and hallucinations due to data and model poisoning by malicious actors.
- Lack of data privacy due to model training and use of unregulated AI tools.
- Lack of critical thinking due to reliance on AI prompts and quick searches from AI outputs.
- The use of autonomous weapons for enhancing terrorism and chaos.
