Latest news with #criticalthinking
Fast Company
6 hours ago
- Science
- Fast Company
Your reliance on ChatGPT might be really bad for your brain
If you value critical thinking, you may want to rethink your use of ChatGPT. As graduates proudly show off using ChatGPT for final projects, and with 89% of students admitting to using it for homework, have you ever wondered what effect this is having on our brains? A new study conducted by researchers at MIT split 54 participants (aged 18 to 39 from the Boston area) into three groups. Each was tasked with writing 20-minute essays based on SAT prompts using either OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's comparatively more traditional search engine, or their own brains. Researchers then used electroencephalogram (or EEG) to record brain activity across 32 regions. Of the three groups, those assisted by ChatGPT engaged their brains the least and 'consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels.' The study found that using ChatGPT reduced activity in brain regions associated with memory and learning, as 'some 'human thinking' and planning' was offloaded to the LLM. Unsurprisingly, ChatGPT users felt less ownership over their essays compared to the other groups. They also struggled to recall or quote from their own essays shortly after submitting them—showing how reliance on the LLM bypassed deep memory processes. Over several months, those using ChatGPT became lazier with each essay. By the end of the study, their work amounted to little more than copy-and-paste. Two English teachers who assessed the essays called them largely 'soulless.' The paper's lead author, Nataliya Kosmyna, told Time: 'It was more like, 'Just give me the essay, refine this sentence, edit it, and I'm done.'' By comparison, the group using their own brains showed the highest neural connectivity, were more engaged and curious, and expressed greater satisfaction with their essays. The Google Search group also showed high satisfaction and active brain function. Given how frequently ChatGPT is now used in educational settings, these findings give cause for concern. A February 2025 OpenAI report on ChatGPT use among college-aged users found that more than one-quarter of their ChatGPT conversations were education-related. The report also revealed that the top five uses for students were writing-centered: starting papers and projects (49%), summarizing long texts (48%), brainstorming creative projects (45%), exploring new topics (44%), and revising writing (44%). The MIT paper has not yet been peer-reviewed, and its sample size is relatively small. However, the authors believed it was important to release the findings to draw attention to the damaging long-term impact that use of large language models may have on our brains—as more and more people outsource everything from work tasks to texting. 'What really motivated me to put it out now before waiting for a full peer review is that I am afraid in 6-8 months, there will be some policymaker who decides, 'Let's do GPT kindergarten.' I think that would be absolutely bad and detrimental,' Kosmyna told Time. 'Developing brains are at the highest risk.'
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Study: ChatGPT may be eroding critical thinking skills
(NewsNation) — A new study led by researchers at MIT reveals that using OpenAI's ChatGPT could be negatively impacting the brain's critical thinking skills. Researchers divided 54 students into three different groups and asked them to write essays using ChatGPT, Google's search engine and nothing at all. Using electroencephalograms (EEGs), they recorded each participant's brain activity and found that ChatGPT users had the lowest brain engagement and 'consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels.' Teens with 'addictive' phone use more likely to be suicidal: Study The study also revealed that over the course of the several months the study was conducted, the people who used ChatGPT put much less effort into the essays by just typing the prompt into the AI software and having it do all the work. ChatGPT users also retained less information from the essays that were written. The effect was termed 'cognitive debt' by researchers, highlighting how constant reliance on AI systems may impair the cognitive processes underlying independent thinking. The brain-only group showed the highest neural connectivity in areas of the brain responsible for language comprehension, creativity and memory. The group that used Google had moderate brain engagement throughout the course of the study. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Expand access to MUN for public school students, education ministry told
Arishah Rusydan, 17, won the 'Best Delegate' award at the 16th Asia Youth International Model United Nations in Kuala Lumpur. PETALING JAYA : The education ministry is being urged to expand access to Model United Nations (MUN) activities for public school students, given their value in fostering critical thinking, leadership and global awareness. Malaysian Youth Association for Diplomacy and Policy (MyADP) president Benjamin Fong said MUN serves as a powerful educational platform for developing higher-order thinking, aligning with the national curriculum's focus on Higher Order Thinking Skills (KBAT). Benjamin Fong. He said it also sharpens English proficiency and equips students with soft skills such as public speaking, teamwork and diplomacy. 'MUN goes far beyond debate. It teaches problem-solving, policy writing, idea generation and negotiation—all essential in preparing our students for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,' he told FMT. Fong said many MUN events struggle to gain recognition from the ministry, particularly in securing approval for Psychometric Assessment and Assessment of Physical Activity Co-curriculum (PAJSK) marks. This, he said, limits participation among government secondary school students despite growing interest in the activity. Under current guidelines, secondary school students only receive PAJSK marks—used in admissions to public universities and for scholarship applications—if the event is approved by the ministry. 'Because of this, students often have to prioritise officially recognised activities, missing out on the unique developmental benefits that MUN offers,' he said. Fong said student organisers also face bureaucratic hurdles in applying for ministry approval, especially when small participation fees are involved—a practice often restricted under current regulations. 'Out of the 31 schools we've identified as active in MUN, only two are government secondary schools,' he said. To address the issue, MyADP has published a step-by-step guide to help school and university-based organisers apply for official recognition. He said the ministry should simplify the process and consider allowing reasonable fees, provided events maintain educational value and inclusivity. 'We should be encouraging more students like Arishah Rusydan to join MUN. It's a vital step toward nurturing holistic thinkers, confident communicators and future leaders,' he said. Earlier this month, FMT reported that Arishah, 17, had been denied PAJSK marks despite winning the 'Best Delegate' award at the 16th Asia Youth International Model United Nations in Kuala Lumpur. Arishah said such policies could discourage students from participating in global events that help build real-world skills and confidence. The event, which featured 1,000 participants from 38 countries, was not endorsed by the ministry and therefore did not qualify for PAJSK consideration. Under PAJSK, only ministry-approved activities are eligible for co-curricular marks, which make up 10% of the merit score for university placements and scholarships. External certificates, even from international or high-level events, are not accepted.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Science
- Telegraph
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.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
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. 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. 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. OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, was contacted for comment.
