Are you used to the AI telling you everything? According to research, that’s what makes you stupid.

Artificial intelligence has become very popular in recent years – for many of us it has become an integral part of our daily lives. Tools like ChatGPT or Gemini allow us to have a “friendly” chat, search for information in record time and get answers to virtually anything – from recipes and travel tips to workflows and chemical formulas. Microsoft’s Co-Pilot, on the other hand, helps with emails, while DALL-E can generate an image without the need for a paintbrush, tablet, or any artistic skills at all.

On the face of it, this is undoubtedly a technological marvel that can save us both time and energy. But… is it a good thing? Don’t we run the risk of getting stupid? According to several new studies, this is more than likely.

What the studies say about the effects of AI on our brains

A recent study from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) found that people who used large language models (LLM for short ) to write essays had lower brain activity than those who created with only their own knowledge.

How did this happen?

The research involved 54 participants, who were then divided into three groups: one had access to ChatGPT, one had access to Google’s search engine, and the third had no online resources. Each participant had to write several essays, and their brain activity was measured using an EEG. Subsequent results showed that those who wrote using ChatGPT repeatedly showed the lowest activity. Moreover, many of them were already relying mainly on copying and pasting text by the end of the experiment.

This is confirmed by further investigation. For example, a Swiss study published in January 2025 found that younger people rely on AI more than older participants, which is reflected in their critical thinking. The explanation is simple: the younger generation, having already grown up in an environment of digital tools, naturally relies on technology to “make complex tasks happen”. But that’s what’s alarming about it all. In fact, the use of AI (short for“Artificial Intelligence”) is turning from an occasional helper into a form of cognitive relief, a way to save yourself work and not have to strain your brain so much.

The increasing need to rely on artificial intelligence is, among other things, also linked to declining confidence in one’s abilities. In another study conducted in early 2025, researchers surveyed over three hundred workers from a variety of fields (from teachers and healthcare professionals to engineers) and found that people who relied on AI had less confidence in their own ability to think critically.

Do you think AI makes you smarter? Reality is different

But using language models doesn’t necessarily harm critical thinking – especially assuming users have it to begin with. The problem arises the moment AI starts replacing our own thoughts and creativity instead of just complementing them. And unfortunately, new studies suggest that this is happening more and more often. For example, research from Harvard, conducted in May 2025, showed that while generative AI increases people’s productivity, it also decreases their motivation.

However, it is important to note that scientific analyses examining the effects of AI on the human psyche and brain are still at an early stage – only with the passage of time will we see what the long-term consequences will be.

But we already know that AI can make our lives easier and more efficient. But if we start using it mindlessly, we risk unlearning how to think. The solution is not necessarily to reject AI, but to learn to use it as a complement, not a replacement. Otherwise, we risk paying for the time saved by losing our own intelligence.

On the other hand, using language models does not necessarily damage our critical thinking right away – especially assuming you have it from the start. The problem arises the moment you start using them to completely replace your own ideas and creativity instead of just complementing them. But unfortunately, new studies suggest that this is happening more and more often. For example, research from Harvard, conducted in May 2025, showed that while AI increases people’s productivity, it also decreases their motivation.

However, it is important to note that scientific analyses examining the effects of AI on the human psyche and brain are still at an early stage – only with the passage of time will we see what the long-term consequences will be.

But we already know that AI can make our lives easier and more efficient in some ways. But if we start using it indiscriminately, we risk unlearning how to think. The solution, however, is not necessarily to reject AI, but to learn to use it as a supplement, not as a full replacement.

Otherwise, we really risk paying for the time we save by losing our own intelligence.