AI is fast food for the brain
It’s usually not a good day when your accountant says something that sends a shiver up your spine. Yet this had nothing to do with my finances and everything to do with a decision big technology firms had made that I somehow hadn’t noticed. “It’s incredibly annoying!” he exclaimed when asked about his GenAI use, something I’ve been doing with everyone lately. “Everything I do, even just writing…
The term "AI is fast food for the brain" captures the essence of how prevalent generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has become in our daily lives. This article explores the ramifications of this digital convenience.
When your accountant mentions GenAI, it may not seem concerning. However, the decision made by big technology firms to make AI offer assistance on nearly every task has raised concerns for those who use computers and phones. As someone who has made a career out of understanding human thought and behavior, the use of AI has left one's brain feeling overwhelmed.
The "default effect," a concept in behavioral science, refers to our tendency to stick with a pre-selected option rather than actively choosing another. This phenomenon is powerful in decision-making, as it allows for choice architecture that requires users to opt out of options instead of opting in. This "opt-out" strategy has led to increased uptake of GenAI, with 90% of people using the service in countries where opting out is the default, compared to around 10% in countries where opting in is required.
The convenience of being offered help by GenAI, the belief that using it is the right decision, the assumption that using GenAI is the social norm, and the desire to conserve resources are the three reasons why humans are increasingly relying on AI.
This reliance on AI to think for us has consequences. Skills we once built over decades can be lost quickly when offloaded to AI. Studies have shown that the ability to detect specific health indicators in physicians and computer coding abilities in experienced coders have significantly diminished after AI tools were introduced into their workflows.
This is due to a motivational problem that arises when using AI, as our brains rebel against the effort required to go back to the more laborious method. This can be as painful as experiencing physical pain, leading to the deletion of the pathways associated with the skill from our brain networks.
As ubiquitous as AI becomes, the risk of losing essential skills is becoming increasingly alarming. This "fast food" approach to our mental capabilities may have far-reaching implications for our overall well-being.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
