Using AI makes you stupid, researchers find

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots risk making people less intelligent by hampering the development of critical thinking, memory and language skills, research has found.
A study by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that people who relied on ChatGPT to write essays had lower brain activity than those who used their brain alone.
The group who used AI also performed worse than the 'brain-only' participants in a series of tests. Those who had used AI also struggled when asked to perform tasks without it.
'Reliance on AI systems can lead to a passive approach and diminished activation of critical thinking skills when the person later performs tasks alone,' the paper said.
Researchers warned that the findings raised 'concerns about the long-term educational implications' of using AI both in schools and in the workplace.
It adds to a growing body of work that suggest people's brains switch-off when they use AI.
'Human thinking offloaded'
The MIT study monitored 54 people who were asked to write four essays. Participants were divided into three groups. One wrote essays with the help of ChatGPT, another used internet search engines to conduct research and the third relied solely on brainpower.
Researchers then asked them questions about their essays while performing so-called electroencephalogram (EEG) scans that measured activity in their brains.
Those who relied on ChatGPT, a so-called 'large language model' that can answer complicated questions in plain English, 'performed worse than their counterparts in the brain-only group at all levels: neural, linguistic, scoring', the researchers said.
The EEG scans found that 'brain connectivity systematically scaled down with the amount of external support' and was weakest in those who were relying on AI chatbots to help them write essays.
The readings in particular showed reduced 'theta' brainwaves, which are associated with learning and memory formation, in those using chatbots. 'Essentially, some of the 'human thinking' and planning was offloaded,' the study said.
The impact of AI contrasted with the use of search engines, which had relatively little effect on results.
Of those who has used the chatbot, 83pc failed to provide a single correct quote from their essays – compared to around 10pc in those who used a search engine or their own brainpower.
Participants who relied on chatbots were able to recall very little information about their essays, suggesting either they had not engaged with the material or had failed to remember it.
Those using search engines showed only slightly lower levels of brain engagement compared to those writing without any technical aides and similar levels of recall.
Impact on 'cognitive muscles'
The findings will fuel concerns that AI chatbots are causing lasting damage to our brains.
A study by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon, published in February, found that workers reported lower levels of critical thinking when relying on AI. The authors warned that overuse of AI could leave cognitive muscles 'atrophied and unprepared' for when they are needed.
Nataliya Kosmyna, the lead researcher on the MIT study, said the findings demonstrated the 'pressing matter of a likely decrease in learning skills' in those using AI tools when learning or at work.
While the AI-assisted group was allowed to use a chatbot in their first three essays, in their final session they were asked to rely solely on their brains.
The group continued to show lower memory and critical thinking skills, which the researchers said highlighted concerns that 'frequent AI tool users often bypass deeper engagement with material, leading to 'skill atrophy' in tasks like brainstorming and problem-solving'.
The essays written with the help of ChatGPT were also found to be homogenous, repeating similar themes and language.
Researchers said AI chatbots could increase 'cognitive debt' in students and lead to 'long-term costs, such as diminished critical inquiry, increased vulnerability to manipulation, decreased creativity'.
Teachers have been sounding the alarm that pupils routinely cheating on tests and essays using AI chatbots.
A survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute in February found 88pc of UK students were using AI chatbots to help with assessments and learning and that 18pc had directly plagiarised AI text into their work.

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BBC News

23 minutes ago

• BBC News

'Eldest daughter syndrome' to the rebellious youngest sibling: Does your birth order shape your personality?

The question of whether siblings' birth order shapes their personality has puzzled families and psychologists for years. But the evidence isn't as straightforward as you might think. As the eldest daughter of two, I often identify with the traits stereotypically associated with being the oldest sibling: responsible, conscientious, a perfectionist. My mum is an eldest daughter, too, and also shares those traits. My younger sister, on the other hand, is a bit more carefree – even though she and I grew up in the same household with the same parents, and are close, our personalities are quite different. I wondered whether that difference could be due to our birth order – is there any science to the idea that being the oldest, the youngest, or an only child, shapes who we are, and how we navigate the world? A century-long mystery Despite fascinating the scientific community and public for more than 100 years, the question of whether our birth order amongst siblings shapes our personalities is very much still up for debate. Historically, research has produced inconsistent findings. There are several reasons why this is, though to put it simply: it's hard to measure. Rodica Damian, an associate professor in psychology at the University of Houston, Texas, in the US, explains that previous studies have often included small sample sizes. In addition, since personality tests are often self-reported, they may be affected by bias. Recent studies point out that a number of confounding variables can make it hard to investigate if birth order is systematic, meaning that it affects every person in the same way. The total number of siblings may be a factor, for example: one would expect the overall dynamics to be different in a family with two siblings compared to a family with seven siblings. Being the eldest or youngest child in these differently-sized families might be a very different experience, and not directly comparable. Family size and the experience of being a child in any given family may in turn be entangled with many other factors, such as a family's socioeconomic status (wealthier families with higher socioeconomic status tend to have fewer children, for example). And then there is a person's age and gender, which could influence their experience within the family and beyond. Within this context, researchers have not been able to conclude that birth order has any consistent, universal impacts on our personalities. But that doesn't mean birth order is irrelevant. It could play a role within certain families, or cultures. "I think people have a lot of beliefs that are kind of outdated, or that were never well supported in the first place," says Julia Rohrer, a personality researcher at Leipzig University in Germany. "For example, the 'eldest daughter syndrome' thing is a big one – of course, women often still have different roles and are expected to provide more care. And then, first-borns are expected to take care of younger siblings," she says. "For some women, this might perfectly match their experience but for others it doesn't because every family is different." In other words, not every eldest daughter will be responsible and caring – but for some, the idea of an "eldest daughter syndrome" may ring true because they really did grow up having to look after their younger siblings and feel that this experience shaped them. Rohrer and her colleagues have found that birth order "does not have a lasting effect on broad personality traits" after examining three large datasets from surveys in the UK, US and Germany, each comprising data from several thousand people. However, the study did confirm previous findings on the impact of birth order on one specific trait: intelligence. Intelligence is a complex phenomenon and the study only measures it in the form of performance in intelligence tests, and self-reported intellect. "We confirmed the effect that firstborns score higher on objectively measured intelligence and additionally found a similar effect on self-reported intellect," Rohrer and her colleagues wrote in the study. Previous research had documented that performances in intelligence tests "decline slightly from firstborns to later-borns". As for birth order and other personality traits, Rohrer says reflecting on one's experience can still be meaningful, even if there is no universal pattern: "It does provide a label where you can find other people who grew up in a similar situation, and you can exchange experiences and so on," she says of terms such as "eldest daughter syndrome". There is nothing wrong with framing your experience that way, "as long as you don't assume that this experience is universal," she says. Damian echoes this: "While we don't find differences in personality that are systematic, that doesn't mean that there aren't social processes within each family or within each culture that can lead to different outcomes based on birth order." For example, the UK has a historically (male-preferring) primogeniture culture, meaning the eldest child would be the first in line to inherit family wealth, estate or titles. Only in 2013, with the passing of the Succession to the Crown Act did primogeniture within the monarchy end, removing the power of a male heir to displace an elder daughter in their right to the Crown. The idea of primogeniture is surprisingly widespread and persistent: in Succession, the HBO satirical comedy-drama, about a family's fight to take over a media empire, one character shouts "I'm the eldest boy!" in the finale. He believes his birth position should give him the right to take over his father's position of CEO. (He is actually the second-eldest son, but we won't get into that). "If the social practice is based on birth order, then yes, birth order will impact your outcomes," says Damian. Age is just a number? Age-related experiences can easily be mistaken for a personality trait or behaviour influenced by birth order, the researchers explain. Take the older, "responsible" sibling as an example: "As people grow older, they become more responsible, more self-controlled. So, the firstborn is always going to be older than the later born, and as you observe your children grow, the firstborn will always be more responsible," says Damian. "Another thing is that people become more self-conscious as they grow older," she adds. "So the second-born might appear more sociable and less neurotic, because a 10-year-old is much more happy and full of themselves… compared to the 14-year-old, who's freaking out about everything. That's because they have different challenges." Factors such as children's friendship circles also matter. Multiple studies suggest a link between delinquent peers and delinquent behaviour, for example, so an older child could be more of a rule-breaker depending on the people with whom they surround themselves. Smart siblings As aforementioned, one consistent finding that crops up in birth order research is the link between birth order and intelligence, with firstborns averaging slightly higher in intellect-related traits than younger-borns. "[The intelligence link] mostly shows up in verbal intelligence test results, and it has a very small effect," says Damian. Also, "if you took a test twice, you'll probably score depending on the day or mood, [or] whatever you ate that morning, [or] how long you slept." It may also be explained by cognitive stimulation in the early years of life. Damian points out that the more adults per child you have in a family, the more exposed they are to mature language and vocabulary. But when there are more siblings born into a family, levels of intellectual stimulation might decrease. "So it's not so much that they're genetically smarter or that they have more potential – it's more that they translate into a higher verbal IQ score on the test which could be due to knowing more words, because more adults versus children spoke to them," she says. "With two children, maybe some of that reading time is taken by managing sibling interactions where the verbal input is a little bit less elevated." There are also suggestions that as older siblings tutor younger siblings, or explain things to them, they use "more cognitive resources". Interestingly, these patterns of intelligence aren't replicated globally. Data from developing countries differs to data from developed countries, for example. In Indonesia, later-born siblings are likely to have better educational opportunities than their older siblings, potentially due to financial constraints, easing only when older siblings begin contributing to family income. According to Damian and her colleague, birth order has "negligible effects" on careers, too. In the past, there an idea prevalent among scientists was that the older sibling would enter a more academic or scientific career, and the younger a more creative one. But Damian found the opposite: in her longitudinal study, which looked at a sample of US high students in 1960 and then the same participants 60 years later, first-borns ended up in more creative careers. 'Selfish' only children? Only children often face the stereotype of being more selfish than children born with siblings, supposedly because they do not have to compete for a parents' attention. Recent studies, however, have shown that this is not the case, and that growing up without siblings does not lead to increased selfishness or narcissism. Other research suggests that the social behaviours of only children compared to children with siblings are not large or pervasive, and "may grow smaller with age". Birth order research has typically not included only children on the grounds that they cannot be fairly compared to children who have grown up with siblings. However, it is possible to compare the personality traits of siblings and only children, according to a 2025 paper by Michael Ashton, a professor of psychology at Brock University, Canada, and Kibeom Lee, a professor of psychology at the University of Calgary, Canada. Their study presented some new and fascinating results. It examined the association between personality, birth order, and number of siblings, in 700,000 adults online in one sample and more than 70,000 in another, separate sample. Middle-born and last-born siblings averaged higher on the "Honesty-Humility" and "Agreeableness" scales than first-born siblings. "Honesty-Humility" measures how honest and humble a person is, meaning, a high-scoring person is unlikely to manipulate others, break rules, or feel entitled. A low-scoring person may be more inclined to break rules and may feel a strong sense of self-importance. On the agreeableness scale, a high-scoring person tends to be forgiving, lenient in judging others, even-tempered and willing to compromise, while a low-scoring person may hold grudges, be stubborn, be quick to feel anger, and be critical of others. "These differences were quite small in size, particularly when the comparisons involve people from families having the same number of children," Ashton and Lee say in an email. "In contrast, the differences in these dimensions between persons from a one-child family (i.e., only children) and persons from a six-or-more-child family were considerably larger, somewhere between the sizes that social scientists would call 'small' and 'medium'." So, I ask, is the influence of birth order just a zombie theory – a concept that is wrong but which refuses to die? Rohrer disagrees. "I'm not sure whether I would call it a zombie theory," she says. "From the scientific perspective, I think the literature is progressing quite productively." So we may, one day, have a clearer answer as to what it means to be an eldest daughter. Until then, I'll keep letting my younger sister believe I'm inherently smarter than her. -- For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Geeky Gadgets

an hour ago

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New Midjourney AI Video Generator Tested : Transform Your Photos into Videos

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Whether you're a professional looking to push the boundaries of visual storytelling or an enthusiast curious about the future of animation, this deep dive will help you decide if this experimental technology is the right fit for your creative ambitions. The question is: how far are you willing to go to turn stillness into motion? Midjourney Video Model Overview Core Features: How the Video Model Works Midjourney's video model focuses exclusively on image-to-video animation, deliberately excluding text-to-video capabilities for now. It offers two distinct animation modes, each catering to different user needs: Automatic Mode: This mode applies predefined motion patterns to your image, making it a quick and accessible option for generating animations without requiring advanced input. This mode applies predefined motion patterns to your image, making it a quick and accessible option for generating animations without requiring advanced input. Manual Mode: For users seeking greater control, this mode enables you to define specific movements, allowing for tailored animations that align with your creative vision. Additionally, the tool provides two motion intensity settings—low and high. The low-motion setting generates subtle, realistic animations, ideal for maintaining a natural look. In contrast, the high-motion setting creates more dynamic and dramatic effects, though it can sometimes result in exaggerated or unnatural movements. Despite these options, the model occasionally encounters motion errors, particularly when operating in high-motion mode, which can detract from the overall quality of the animation. Watch this video on YouTube. Access and Cost: What You Need to Know The video model is currently accessible only through Midjourney's web portal, with no integration into Discord. While this web-based approach may simplify navigation for some users, it limits accessibility for those accustomed to Discord-based workflows, which have been a hallmark of Midjourney's other tools. Cost is another critical consideration. Video generation is significantly more expensive than image creation, costing approximately eight times as much. For frequent users, the Pro subscription tier, priced at $60 per month, includes a 'relaxed mode' that allows for unlimited video generation. However, for casual users or those experimenting with the tool, the high costs may present a barrier to regular use, making it less accessible for non-professional projects. Midjourney Video AI Mode Watch this video on YouTube. Below are more guides on Midjourney from our extensive range of articles. Technical Specifications and Limitations The videos produced by Midjourney's model are short, typically ranging between 5 and 20 seconds in length. The resolution is capped at 480p, which may not meet the standards required for professional or high-quality projects. To achieve higher resolutions, you'll need to rely on external upscaling tools such as Cupscale or Topaz, adding additional steps to your workflow and increasing the time and effort required to finalize a project. The tool performs best when animating single-subject images, where it can effectively bring static visuals to life. However, it struggles with more complex scenarios, such as: Animating multiple faces, which often results in inaccuracies or distorted movements. Generating realistic facial expressions or achieving precise lip-syncing, which remains unreliable. These limitations underscore the experimental nature of the tool and its current inability to handle intricate visual elements effectively. As such, it is better suited for simpler projects that do not require high levels of detail or precision. User Experience: Opportunities and Challenges The video model encourages creative experimentation, allowing you to explore a variety of prompts and animation styles. This flexibility can lead to unique and visually engaging results, particularly for single-subject animations. However, the user experience is not without its challenges. For example: Downloading videos can be cumbersome due to limited resolution options and the absence of streamlined export features, which complicates the workflow. The tool's performance can be inconsistent, especially when handling complex prompts or operating in high-motion settings, leading to mixed results. Despite these hurdles, early feedback has been largely positive, particularly regarding the tool's ability to create smooth and visually appealing animations for simpler projects. This suggests that, even in its current experimental phase, the video model holds significant creative potential for users willing to navigate its complexities. Future Potential and Current Suitability Midjourney's video model represents a promising step forward in the realm of image-to-video animation, offering you a novel way to bring static images to life. Its creative possibilities are undeniable, but the tool's current limitations—such as low resolution, high costs, and technical challenges—highlight its experimental status. As the technology evolves, future updates may address these shortcomings, potentially improving resolution, reducing costs, and enhancing the tool's ability to handle complex animations. For now, the video model is best suited for users who are willing to embrace its experimental nature and explore its potential for innovative visual storytelling. Whether you are a professional seeking to push creative boundaries or an enthusiast experimenting with new tools, this feature offers a glimpse into the future of animation technology. Media Credit: Thaeyne Filed Under: AI, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.

Daily Mail​

an hour ago

• Daily Mail​

China praised for extreme method to prevent students from cheating during exams as people call it 'genius'

More than 13 million anxious students in China filled exam rooms this year to sit the notoriously challenging gaokao. The two-day exam determines whether students can secure a place at university, and teens spend years studying for the big test. But students this year faced more than just academic pressure, as those taking the university entrance exams had to deal with some of the most extreme anti-cheating methods yet. Facial recognition technology, metal detectors, drones and phone signal blockers were regularly used in schools this year amid the Chinese government's latest attempt to clamp down on cheats. AI firms have also been involved in the government's latest efforts to curb cheating. Last week, as students sat to take their university entrance exams, some major AI platforms in China appeared to freeze certain functions during test hours. This meant that if students tried to upload a picture of an exam question, they were met with a message telling them that the feature was not available in that moment. One tech giant, Tencent, explicitly cited the integrity of the exams to explain why some of its features were unavailable. 'Dear user, to ensure the fairness of gaokao, this function is unavailable during gaokao hours. Tencent Yuanbao wishes gaokao sitters all success in the exams', the company's chat-bot told users when they tried to upload photos of exam papers during the exam window. Chinese AI model DeepSeek also prevented users from uploading photos of test papers during the same period. Asked if photo recognition was suspended because of the exam, the chat-bot answered: 'yes. Deepseek Chat could temporarily suspend photo recognition for test question search during gaokao and other important exams'. The measure was to 'ensure fairness in the college entrance examination', the firm said, adding that relevant functions would 'return to normal after gaokao.'. Moves made by Chinese AI companies sent some students into a panic, with one user writing on social platform Weibo: 'College entrance exam candidates, you are all s**t'. 'I can't use DeepSeek to upload pictures, I have to download ChatGPT again, I hope you all go to community college​​​​', another complained. It comes after Chinese authorities last month announced the use of stricter entry checks at exam points, biometric identification, enhanced screening for digital devices, and radio signal blockers. The government already made cheating in tests a criminal act back in 2016 Members of the public have had mixed reactions to China's latest cheat-proof measures. One social media user wrote on Instagram: 'A bold but necessary step. When 13 million students are fighting limited spots, even the smallest tech loophole could disrupt fairness. Respect to China for treating academic integrity seriously.' 'China is 200 years ahead', another said. 'No wonder China is winning', a third added. Another praised China for 'leading by example', calling them 'trailblazers in modern technology'. But others were sceptical of the country's anti-cheating measures. 'This is only gonna make [students want to] cheat even more. They're [going to] to try to figure out way around this block. While China has tried to deter students from using AI technology during their exam periods, in another drastic move, schools have ironically turned to AI patrol and surveillance systems to check if pupils are cheating. These technologies are designed to detect suspicious behaviour in the exam room, such as whispering, passing objects, exchanging glances, peeking or using forbidden tools. In the province of Jiangxi, schools are known to review footage taken from exam rooms rooms to detect any potential cheaters. The suspension of certain AI functions has been widely criticized by university students who say they have been unable to use tools to assist them with their studies. The education ministry and police have repeatedly urged local governments to take the crackdown on cheating seriously, and this is not the first time China has turned to extreme xxxx in a bid to prevent cheating. In 2016, China introduced a rule that would see students sent to prison if they were caught cheating in the highly competitive exams. Cheaters can face up to seven years in jail and be banned from taking other national education exams for three years under the amendment that was made to the Criminal Law nearly a decade ago. In 2018, six people were imprisoned for their part in a scheme to cheat in school exams Exam takers were provided with wireless transmitters and receivers and told to read the questions out loud, according to the reports. Researchers off-site would then find the answers in textbooks and read them to the test takers through their receivers. The six defendants were sentenced to between 20 months and four years. University entrance exams are a moment of high stress in China, as millions of students compete for only a limited number of university places. For students from rural homes, the exam has been praised as a leveller of the playing field and a catalyst for social mobility.