{
  "id": 14612501,
  "title": "Q&A: The “collision” between AI, your brain, and society",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/q-a-the-collision-between-ai-your-brain-and-society-14612501",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-15T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MIT News AI",
    "slug": "mit-news-ai",
    "url": "https://news.mit.edu/2026/collision-between-ai-your-brain-and-society-eric-so-book-1015"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, scholars are striving to comprehend its impact on individuals. MIT Professor Eric So has penned one of the most comprehensive analyses in his new book, \"The Collision: What AI Does to Us,\" recently published by W.W. Norton. While acknowledging AI's potential to expedite tasks and provide specialized domain tools, So emphasizes the potential drawbacks of overreliance. He posits that excessive AI use could result in cognitive decline, as people falter in developing and retaining crucial thinking skills. This notion is supported by recent studies conducted by academics and industry players, including Anthropic's research revealing that approximately half of college students' queries to AI are trivial requests for straightforward answers.\n\nIn his book, So interweaves personal anecdotes, drawing from his extensive experience in financial markets and behavioral analysis. He reflects on his own experiences, recounting how he had once relinquished his own cognitive process to AI, feeling uneasy about the outcome. He also observes that students are increasingly outsourcing their thinking to AI, bypassing the opportunity to cultivate proficiency in various subjects. To address these concerns, So calls for a deeper understanding of AI's effects on human cognition and psychology, alongside practical guidance.\n\nOne key aspect of this discussion entails grasping the motivations behind AI adoption and the allure it exerts, notwithstanding potential long-term repercussions. So identifies several interrelated drivers of this inclination, such as our innate drive to conserve mental energy, the social pressure to emulate others in adopting AI, and the challenges in detecting AI use in practical scenarios. This confluence of factors creates what So refers to as \"AI gravity,\" a persistent pull towards utilizing AI. He cautions against viewing these challenges solely through the lens of individual decision-making, arguing that organizational factors—such as businesses mandating AI usage—play a significant role as well.\n\nIn terms of mitigating the adverse effects of AI on our minds, So outlines four guiding principles for navigating this era of AI integration. These principles include embracing the intellectual struggle, valuing one's own capabilities independent of AI, and cultivating resilience in problem-solving. By reframing cognitive struggle as a formative process rather than a hindrance, So advocates for a transformative shift in our approach to learning and personal growth in the age of AI.",
  "summary": "In a new book, Professor Eric So explores how the technology affects our thinking skills.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MIT News Research",
        "title": "Q&A: The “collision” between AI, your brain, and society",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/q-a-the-collision-between-ai-your-brain-and-society",
        "published": "2026-10-15T04:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}