# MIT professor Eric So warns of AI cognitive atrophy

Digest AI · Research · published 2026-10-15T04:00:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/mit-professor-eric-so-warns-of-ai-cognitive-atrophy

## Summary

Eric So, a Sloan Distinguished Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management, released his book The Collision: What AI Does to Us this month. In a Q&A with MIT News, he argues that while AI can speed up work, heavy reliance can cause cognitive atrophy, eroding essential thinking skills. He cites research, including an Anthropic study showing that about half of college students’ AI queries were low‑effort requests for simple answers.

So explains that people are drawn to AI by a mix of biological instinct to conserve mental energy and social pressure, a phenomenon he calls “AI gravity.” He warns that organizations now use AI performance as a basis for evaluation, creating a self‑fulfilling cycle of dependence. He stresses the importance of “productive struggle” and suggests four principles: embrace struggle, value work without AI, reinvest time saved by AI, and use AI as a tutor rather than an answer machine.

The book calls for a shift in how we view learning and work, urging individuals and institutions to balance AI’s convenience with the need to maintain cognitive effort.

## Key points

- Eric So's book argues AI use can cause cognitive atrophy.
- Anthropic study shows about half of college student queries were low‑effort.
- AI gravity pulls users to AI due to mental energy conservation and social pressure.

## Why it matters

Understanding AI’s impact on cognition is vital for educators, employers, and policy makers. If AI erodes foundational thinking, future workers may lack problem‑solving skills, and institutions risk over‑reliance on automated tools. The book urges a balanced approach, highlighting that unchecked AI use could reshape learning, evaluation, and interpersonal relationships, affecting society’s long‑term intellectual resilience.

## Sources

1. [Q&A: The “collision” between AI, your brain, and society](https://news.mit.edu/2026/collision-between-ai-your-brain-and-society-eric-so-book-1015) (MIT News on AI, 2026-10-15, primary source)

Part of the developing story: [AI Cognition Crisis Growing Debate](https://digestai.news/thread/opinion-ai-may-erode-human-cognition-like-a-cognitive-hot-dog) (2 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "MIT professor Eric So warns of AI cognitive atrophy", 15 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/mit-professor-eric-so-warns-of-ai-cognitive-atrophy

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