Why Thinking Hurts After Using AI?

I summarized four recent research papers to show why and how AI erodes our critical thinking ability.

Image by Author using AI

Look, I’ll admit it: I messed up.

AI outputs can disappoint, but it’s a two-way street. Yes, the models hallucinate and have their off days. But the quality of your prompts matters — and sometimes, I get lazy. Seduced by AI’s convenience, I’d rush through tasks, sending unchecked emails and publishing unvetted content.

I try my best to triple-check everything now. But those moments of exhaustion? Millions of years of evolution didn’t exactly equip humans with the robotic consistency AI can achieve.

This research from Microsoft sent a shockwave suggesting that frequent AI usage is actively reshaping our critical thinking patterns. And some groups will bear the brunt of this shift more than others.

A 2023 paper saw this coming, highlighting two skills that would become essential in the AI era. Take a guess.

Critical thinking and science.

Not coding. Not data analysis. Not even AI engineering. But the fundamental human capabilities that separate strategic thinking from mechanical execution.