AI Anxiety. Are We Witnessing The Decay Of Our Brains?
The digital age promised freedom from tedious tasks, a future where machines would handle the routine, allowing human minds to focus on bigger things. Artificial intelligence, in its growing presence, has delivered on some of that. From crafting eloquent emails to optimizing complex logistics, AI offers immense convenience, a smooth handover of mental effort. Yet, beneath this easy efficiency, a quiet, unsettling worry has begun to stir. Are we, in our quick adoption of artificial cognition, unintentionally seeing our own thinking skills fade?
This isn't a sci-fi scenario, but a real question for a generation at a unique point in history. You and I remember a time before ChatGPT, before AI became a constant helper in our intellectual lives. We grew up tackling tough problems, putting information together, and in the process, gradually sharpened our critical thinking skills. We learned to solve challenges with limited digital aid. But for those who were born after the rise of generative AI in November 2022, AI is the norm. This raises important questions about the legacy we are creating for their minds.
Neuroscience has long supported the idea that our brains need to be used to stay strong. Our brains aren't fixed; they are active, adaptable structures capable of amazing change, a process known as neuroplasticity. When we do challenging mental tasks – like learning a new language, solving a difficult problem, or even finding our way in an unfamiliar city – our brains build new connections and strengthen existing ones. If we don't give our brains enough mental stimulation, our thinking abilities can decline.
Cognitive training studies demonstrate that engaging in mentally demanding activities can improve memory, attention, and problem-solving skills throughout life. On the other hand, environments that lessen the need for active mental engagement can lead to a noticeable drop in brain activity in key areas. If AI consistently gives us answers, solves equations, and even writes our stories, what happens to the brain pathways that once did those jobs? The very convenience AI offers could be stopping our brains from getting the essential "workouts" they need to stay lively and healthy.
Beyond the biological, there's a significant mental aspect to our increasing reliance on AI: the possibility of agency decay. Agency refers to our ability to act on our own and make our own choices. It's the feeling of being in control of what we do and what happens as a result, which is a core part of feeling good about ourselves and being effective. Beyond that ability to take action, agency also encompasses the perception of that ability – and the volition to use it.
When AI systems increasingly make decisions for us, filter our information, or even create our artistic output, the occasions to activate our agency shrink. Research on learned helplessness, for example, shows how people who feel they have no control over their environment can become less motivated, have trouble thinking, and feel emotional distress. The widespread convenience that comes with AI can accidentally create a similar mental state. If we consistently let AI do the work of problem-solving, careful analysis, or remembering things, we risk losing our perceived ability to do these tasks ourselves. This subtle loss of agency can lead to a growing feeling of powerlessness, a sense that our own mental muscles are wasting away from not being used.
This situation is especially important for those of us who grew up before generative AI was everywhere. We are, in essence, the last analog generation. We remember a world where getting information took more effort, where research meant library shelves and putting ideas together, not just typing a question into a chatbot.
Young people, growing up with AI as a constant companion, face a distinct form of AI anxiety. Beyond the familiar pressures of social media, they are navigating a rapid shift from a pre-generative AI world to one where tools like ChatGPT are ubiquitous. This transition places them in a particularly sensitive position: while society at large grapples with the swift evolution of AI, adolescents are simultaneously in the crucial period of their brain's development. I've spoken with a number of young people who, without fully articulating it, express a disquieting sensation—as if their minds are shrinking, akin to how someone with Alzheimer's might feel their cognitive abilities fading. Though not a medical diagnosis, this unsettling feeling of outsourcing mental effort is deeply disturbing. It demands our immediate, serious attention, not just for individual well-being, but for the future of human creativity and society's ability to adapt.
To stop our cognitive decline and ensure humans can thrive alongside AI, we must rethink our education and societal norms. Part of the answer is in developing double literacy:
Human Literacy: This means a complete understanding of ourselves and society. It includes critical thinking, emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, creativity, and a deep understanding of human relationships and cultural contexts. It's about strengthening the very abilities that make us uniquely human and that AI, in its current form, cannot copy. This involves encouraging deep reading, sustained concentration, and the ability to combine complex information from various sources, rather than relying only on AI summaries.
Algorithmic Literacy: This is understanding what AI is, why it works, how it works, and, most importantly, what its limits are. It means grasping the basics of machine learning, recognizing possible biases in algorithms, understanding data privacy issues, and knowing when and how to use AI as a tool, not a crutch. It's about becoming a smart user and a responsible developer of AI.
Bringing these two literacies together is not just an academic idea; it's a societal necessity. Education must move away from just memorizing facts to encouraging careful thought, solving complex problems, and developing unique human skills that work with AI, rather than competing against it. We must teach future generations not just how to use AI, but how to think with AI, and perhaps most importantly, how to think independently of AI. The AI race is an invitation to take a step back and face our own humanity. Who are we, without technology? While this revamping of the education curriculum is a task to be tackled at scale, the following five
The worry about AI's impact on our brains is a warning, not a final verdict. We have the power to shape our relationship with technology. For individuals, especially those in business who often feel tempted to delegate, the practical advice is this:
ANGST: Actively Nurture Growth, Strengthen Thought
Analyze Actively: Don't just consume information; dissect it, synthesize it, and form your own conclusions. Before asking AI for a summary, read and put together complex reports or articles yourself.
Nurture Natural Thought: Prioritize unassisted brainstorming and problem-solving. Set aside time for pure, unaided idea generation before turning to AI for more options. Work through challenging problems step-by-step using your own reasoning before relying on AI for solutions.
Ground Yourself in Focus: Practice deep concentration. Cultivate sustained attention on tasks that need continuous mental effort, resisting the urge to multitask or switch topics often.
Strengthen Social Bonds: Engage in rich, complex human interactions. Make face-to-face discussions, active listening, and detailed communication a priority, as these demand empathy and real-time adaptation.
Take the Cognitive Lead: Be the primary driver of your mental tasks. Choose to exert mental effort even when AI offers an easier way, purposefully exercising your mental muscles.
By purposefully exercising our mental muscles and asserting our human ability to act, we can reduce the risks of AI anxiety and ensure that technology acts as a strong boost to human potential, rather than a quiet cause of mental decline. Our brains are not meant to wither; they are waiting to be challenged, to learn, and to thrive in this new, complex world.
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