Is AI making us stupid?

I've noticed that people tend be more confident in their abilities than they should be. In the past, learning a new skill, particularly a technical skill, involved many lonely hours in front of books. Today, the answer to a question is available instantly. Instead of having to learn a series of skills, one building upon the other, the knowledge required to solve a problem can be obtained without having to understand how it actually works. AI is compounding this by not only providing the answer, but also, in many cases, doing the actual work.

This is all part of progress. Humans have always endeavoured to expend less energy to obtain a required outcome. It becomes concerning when people start believing that being able to "engineer" a prompt for an LLM is a skill more valuable than actually learning how to solve problems with their own knowledge.

Very funny and probably true. I feel like AI supercharges knowledge quite a bit like a better search engine. Therefore I'm able to learn faster and take in more valuable information.

Machine is learning from us, just to leave us behind. It is possible that we would see reality in the Hollywood movies which suggested that machine would rule humans in days going forward. Companies are giving extra tasks to one employee, as they are using AI to do the task faster but the company is reliving a employee as some one else is good with AI & can handle more tasks. So, the company could save money. In 2017, we had a team of 80 people & as on today we are operating with a team of 15 doing the same tasks day in day out. So, think over it, if AI is really helping.

I am not against technology but with technology diseases have also increased. Life span has decreased. Everything is available easily. So, no hardships, this lifestyle is unhealthy. However, more & more startup are looking to solve a problem. The problem is there, so that you may move to solve it but if someone else is solving it, so you sit & monitor if it is accurate or not & finally don't move your body, which is making it lazy & also allowing different diseases to be part of your body. To have more services people try to earn more & end up with corrupting themselves & the environment. To grow a chicken, fruit or vegetables early they are injected with chemicals which affect our body.

I don’t think AI makes us stupid—it’s all about how we use it. In my work, especially in charity fundraising, AI has been incredibly helpful, but it doesn’t replace strategy, empathy, or human connection.

Sometimes, I catch myself feeling like I can’t even write a fundraising email from scratch anymore because I’ve gotten so used to AI assisting me :))) But then I remind myself that I’m still the one shaping the message, defining the strategy, and making sure it truly resonates with donors - add this, delate that etc. So, in reality, AI just speeds up the process.

For example, when we were preparing a fundraising campaign for a medical initiative, AI helped segment donors and suggest messaging, but it was my experience that made the difference in crafting an emotional story that actually moved people to donate. AI accelerates the process, but the creativity (??? this final touch ) and human insight are still mine.

AI is a tool, not a replacement for thinking. The real challenge isn’t AI making us ‘stupid’—it’s ensuring we use it in ways that enhance our abilities rather than replace them.

For example, in business, AI should handle repetitive, time-consuming tasks, so humans can focus on strategic decision-making. When used correctly, AI doesn’t make us less intelligent it gives us more time to apply our intelligence where it matters.

Curious how do others here balance AI convenience with staying sharp and engaged?

Stupid, no. Lazy, yes. Asocial, yes.

I used to discuss technical challenges more before, but lately, I find myself relying on AI for advice. Maybe it’s just me.

I debate if it's making us stupid, but for sure a bit lazy. In the past I used to hustle around, read about things to get a better understanding, do some research, etc. to answer something in detail but with AI these days I became lazy to do so.

+1000,

the more we use it, the less we (also) master how things work (at least, in marketing).

So, I'd definitely use AI without outsourcing my thinking (means double check the outputs every time), stay curious (reading every day business stuff), master the inputs (garbage in, garbage out), and keep learning the hard stuff ('cause AI won't do it for you).

Hey, I totally get where you're coming from! It's a really thought - provoking topic, and you're not alone in having these concerns.

There's no denying that AI, especially tools like ChatGPT, have made our lives incredibly convenient. It's so easy to just fire off a question and get an answer in seconds. But you're right, it can sometimes feel like we're losing that active thinking muscle. When I first started using ChatGPT a lot, I caught myself not even trying to recall information I used to know off the top of my head. It was like my brain was on autopilot, relying on the AI to do the heavy lifting.

But I don't think AI has to make us stupid. It's all about how we use it. For me, when I use ChatGPT to get information, I make sure to dig deeper. If it gives me an answer about a complex topic, I'll ask it to explain the underlying concepts step - by - step. I also cross - reference the information with other sources, like academic papers or trusted websites. This way, I'm not just blindly accepting what the AI says, but actively engaging with the material and learning from it.

Another approach is to use AI as a starting point for your own ideas. Instead of using it to solve a problem for you, use it to get different perspectives or inspiration. For example, if you're writing an article, ask ChatGPT for some outline suggestions, but then take those ideas and develop them in your own unique way. This forces you to think critically and creatively.

As for the next generations and kids, it's definitely a tricky situation. On one hand, if they use AI smartly, it could be an amazing learning tool. They could access knowledge and resources that were previously out of reach. But if they rely on it too much without understanding the fundamentals, they could end up in trouble. Parents and educators have a huge role to play here. They need to teach kids how to use AI responsibly, and make sure they're still developing important skills like critical thinking, problem - solving, and independent learning.

I'm really curious to hear how others are dealing with this. Are there any other strategies you've found to use AI while still keeping your brain engaged? Let's discuss!