# Prof Devi Sridhar warns AI may harm brain health

Digest AI · Society & Work · published 2026-09-25T09:00:45Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/prof-devi-sridhar-warns-ai-may-harm-brain-health

## Summary

Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, argues that the rapid rise of generative AI could erode cognitive skills in a way similar to the health harms linked to excessive screen‑time. She cites a 2026 Higher Education Policy Institute survey that found 95 % of undergraduates used AI in some form and 94 % used it in assessed work, raising concerns about academic integrity and learning outcomes.

The article also notes that Netflix’s global revenue reached $12.6 bn in 2026, illustrating the profitability of streaming and the broader trend toward sedentary media consumption. A small EEG study titled *Your Brain on ChatGPT* reported weaker and less distributed brain connectivity in students who used AI to write essays compared with those who wrote independently. A larger study of 19,000 adults over 50 linked engagement in cognitively stimulating leisure activities to lower dementia risk.

Sridhar warns that if AI use continues to replace key cognitive functions, society may face a decline in mental engagement, potentially increasing chronic brain‑related disease and reducing overall quality of life.

## Key points

- 95% of undergraduates use AI, 94% in assessed work
- Netflix revenue $12.6bn in 2026
- EEG study shows weaker brain connectivity in AI users

## Why it matters

The article highlights how growing AI use may erode cognitive skills, echoing concerns about sedentary tech habits. If AI reduces mental engagement, it could raise long‑term health risks and lower educational outcomes, affecting society’s future workforce and well‑being.

## Sources

1. [We all know a lack of exercise is bad for our bodies. So what is relying on AI doing to our brains?](https://theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/25/exercise-bad-bodies-ai-brains-students-tech-health) (The Guardian AI, 2026-09-25)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Prof Devi Sridhar warns AI may harm brain health", 25 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/prof-devi-sridhar-warns-ai-may-harm-brain-health

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