Opinion: using AI does not make you dumber
The author argues that AI itself does not reduce intelligence; rather, the effect depends on how people delegate thinking to the system. Citing the MIT Media Lab’s “Your Brain on ChatGPT” study, which involved 54 participants split into LLM, search‑engine, and no‑tool groups, the author notes that EEG data showed the broadest neural activity in the no‑tool group and a trend of weaker connections…
Key points
- MIT Media Lab study with 54 people found weaker neural activity when using LLMs versus search engines versus no tools.
- Author says impact depends on whether AI answers are simply accepted or used to generate further questions and verification.
- Verification is crucial, especially in medicine, nursing care, and welfare, because generative AI can produce plausible but wrong text.
The piece contrasts two modes of AI interaction: “outsourcing thought,” where users accept AI answers without further inquiry, and “expanding thought,” where AI prompts new questions, verification, and cross‑domain connections. The author shares personal practice of asking Claude and ChatGPT follow‑up questions, then researching, building, and revising based on primary sources. Emphasis is placed on verification, especially in high‑stakes fields like medicine, nursing care, and welfare, where AI can produce plausible but incorrect text. The overall message is that intelligence in the AI era may shift from raw knowledge to the ability to interrogate, connect, and decide.
Does Using AI Make You Dumber? — Asking Claude and ChatGPT 'How Do You See Me?'
note.com · 21 September 2026
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