The powerful combination of the Internet and ubiquitous smartphones has led us to ask whether we would bother to remember the world’s knowledge if it was so readily available wherever we went. With AI rapidly gaining mainstream adoption, people are naturally looking for ways to minimize or prevent work. But what does that mean for our brains?
They say that, at least among college students, excessive use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT can lead to procrastination, memory loss, and poor academic performance. Recent research “Is it harmful or helpful?”
The research International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education—We found that students who faced high academic workload and time pressure were more likely to use ChatGPT. However, the increased use of AI tools ultimately leads to lower performance.
“Not surprisingly, the use of ChatGPT is more likely to lead to procrastination and memory loss, as well as lower academic performance in students,” the study warned.
Studies have shown that students who frequently use ChatGPT for school work have worse cumulative grade point averages (CGPA). The authors note that this is consistent with growing concerns raised by educators who believe the use of AI is “highly detrimental to societal understandings of knowledge and learning.” ,” has the potential to “kill creativity and critical thinking.”
Lead author Muhammad Abbas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. decoding.
The researchers acknowledge several benefits of utilizing AI tools, noting that students who are concerned about the “excellence, accuracy, and reliability of their work” are more likely to use ChatGPT to help with “grammar, style, and language accuracy.”
Nonetheless, they recommend using AI only when absolutely necessary.
“Overreliance on external sources, including generative AI tools, without personal engagement and active learning can hinder the depth of knowledge and development of essential skills needed for academic success,” they wrote.
beyond the classroom
Although AI is relatively new, this latest study is not the first to explore the impact of the emerging technology, with dozens of researchers focusing on its impact on education and work.
A local study of 285 undergraduate students. published In a science magazine nature We found that AI use can lead to laziness and addiction among users, especially in educational settings.
The study found that 68.9% of human laziness, 68.6% of privacy and security issues, and 27.7% of lost decision-making were due to the impact of artificial intelligence in Pakistani and Chinese societies. “This shows that human laziness is the area most affected by AI.”
that much nature The study also warned that lazy students weren’t the only worrying finding. Researchers said that as users increase their use of AI, over-reliance on technology for even simple tasks could lead to a loss of human skills and increased stress when physical or mental action is required later.
The researchers concluded that AI could have a negative impact on human cognitive abilities by reducing the need for mental effort and analytical thinking, potentially reducing problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
I love that AI can give us code snippets and help us develop quickly.
But it makes me feel like I’m becoming more and more stupid because it makes me unable to solve problems with the code (which you will have). #buildinpublic
— Eric (@erikvdcom) August 17, 2023
separated report As Goldman Sachs put it in 2023, “The workflow changes triggered by these developments could automate 300 million full-time jobs.” The Information Science Research Institute has been warned The continued use of AI in the job market may accelerate the rate at which the technology becomes obsolete. This means workers must adapt by investing in training or shifting their expertise to stay relevant.
This is a darker scenario than a happy vision. a society without employment Illustration by Elon Musk and others teatechnological utopianism.
It’s not just AI
Artificial intelligence may be the latest disruptive technology to shake the very foundations of society, but it is only the latest in a series of structural changes in recent history.
In 2014, a group of UCLA researchers conducted an experiment with two groups of children from California public schools. One group, the control group, proceeded with their routine unchanged. Another went camping, blocking social media and smartphone interaction. After the digital detox, both groups were shown video clips to assess their ability to understand human emotions.
“Researchers found that children without all digital media were significantly better at interpreting emotions than those with access to social media,” CTV News said. report.
Just as AI minimizes the need for critical thinking to solve problems or complete tasks, smartphones and social media have increased distractions and reduced physical human interaction.
Even simple communication between people is changing due to technology. A notable 2017 study We studied the tendency to use emojis and abbreviations in short text messages and concluded that this practice reduces our ability to engage in longer, more nuanced conversations that require better listening and speaking skills.
in other words, “Please explain this to me like I’m 5 years old“Is “I don’t read all that.“Memes, or even Completely ignores capitalization. Technological trends, especially as practiced by Sam Altman, are changing society in all sorts of ways and perhaps making us less intelligent.
Edited by Ryan Ozawa.