Is Artificial Intelligence Making Us Smarter or More Dependent?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of daily life for many people, from studying and working to personal decision-making. While AI can expand knowledge, increase productivity, and facilitate learning, there is concern that it may also make us more dependent on technology. The question remains: does AI make us smarter or more dependent?

AI's ability to provide explanations, examples, and comparisons can facilitate learning, particularly in education. It can help students understand complex concepts, practice languages, and receive feedback. In the workplace, AI can handle repetitive tasks, organize information, summarize documents, and generate ideas, allowing individuals to focus on more creative and decision-making activities. However, this dual potential may also lead to cognitive dependence.

When AI stops being an occasional tool and becomes the first resource people turn to for questions, dependence can emerge. This is particularly true for younger generations, who have grown up surrounded by digital tools. For some young people, consulting AI before making a decision has become a routine behavior. They may ask AI about career choices, how to respond to messages, whether to accept a job opportunity, or how to handle conflicts.

While AI can provide guidance, there is a risk that a person may give an AI-generated response more authority than it deserves.

Moreover, AI can serve as a substitute for professional advice in emotional and physical health matters. While it can offer general information or help organize thoughts, it cannot replace the expertise of a mental health professional or a qualified medical doctor. Relying on AI for these matters may lead to incorrect diagnoses, unnecessary concern, or a false sense of reassurance.

The concept of cognitive dependence refers to the gradual delegation of mental processes that we previously performed independently. Occasional use of AI may not harm intellectual abilities, but excessive use can change the way people approach problems. Research has shown that AI tools can reduce mental effort required for certain tasks, potentially leading to a "cognitive sedentary behavior" in which the mind has fewer opportunities to exercise certain skills. Moreover, there is a risk of confusing efficiency with knowledge.

In summary, while AI can make us smarter by facilitating learning, increasing productivity, and providing access to knowledge, it also has the potential to make us more dependent. To avoid this, it is essential to maintain cognitive agency and not delegate mental processes to AI unnecessarily.