Are We Losing Our Minds to AI?
At this week’s member meetup, the conversation took a philosophical turn—one that’s becoming increasingly urgent: is generative AI making us smarter, or slowly eroding our ability to think for ourselves?
One of our senior members (he told us he’s approaching 80) shared that he’s embarking on a PhD with a university in London. His Master’s degree was completed long before AI tools existed—but this time, he plans to use them to speed up research, streamline processing, and stay transparent with his supervisor. It’s a pragmatic, thoughtful use of AI—and stood out in contrast to some of the anxiety others expressed.
Smart - but there was also plenty of evidence to the contrary.
Slow decline of cognitive abilities
Concerns centred on a slow decline in cognitive abilities. Some reflected on how we no longer need to remember things the way we used to—why bother when devices do it for us? Others spoke about people using vague prompts and accepting generic answers from AI, leading to the same superficial responses echoing everywhere.
We’re losing the will to seek out solutions and, more worryingly, the confidence to trust our own thinking. As one member put it: “You can’t know what’s critical to you unless you’ve done the thinking yourself.”
As pointed out in this Computerworld article “We’ve got a big problem on our hands.” It reflects on a study that finds AI tools can reduce our ability to focus and retain information. While that particular study hasn’t yet passed peer review—a detail not lost on the group—it supports a growing body of research that points to diminished memory and confidence as unintended side effects of over-reliance on AI.
There’s a generational overlay too. While older users might have lived through the introduction of calculators or the early internet, younger people are growing up with GenAI baked into the tools they use every day. What happens when you never build the muscle memory for learning or independent thought? A recent RNZ interview explored this challenge in education—suggesting that without the right guidance, we may be doing our rangatahi a disservice.
So what do we do? Ban it? Regulate it? Shrug and accept it?
Our discussion wasn’t entirely pessimistic. GenAI offers remarkable benefits when used with care. Members shared examples of using it to learn new languages, get up to speed on unfamiliar topics, and even support neurodiverse needs. Tools like Zoom’s AI companion help those with ADHD stay on track in meetings—an accommodation with few downsides.
Last year a study in Kenya showed AI-based tutoring was as effective as hiring a human tutor for every student. Some tutor apps even introduce friction, moderating how much help they give so learners still build skills.
The line between helpful and harmful isn’t a fixed one, it’s like alcohol, we know it’s not safe—but still widely used, as adults we just have to learn our own limits. In the case of Gen AI the limit will be different for each person, shaped by how we use these tools and whether we continue to think for ourselves.
As you can imagine in an hour we didn’t reach consensus, we agreed to not knowing enough yet - I compared this with smoking in the first half of the 1900’s before anyone knew much about it’s harms, or even sleeping with your cellphone near your head (remember that).
What can you do?
We’re not just using technology. We’re being shaped by it. Your choice is whether you drift, or decide what kind of thinker you want to be while embracing the capability. Here is a plan of attack you can start with:
Use AI as a tool, not a crutch – Let it support your thinking, not replace it.
Start with your own ideas – Sketch your thoughts before asking AI to expand or refine them.
Question the answers – Don’t assume AI is right. Treat its responses as a starting point.
Learn how the tools work – Understand the limits, risks, and potential biases in AI systems.
Think critically – Stay in the habit of analysing, reflecting, and drawing from diverse sources.
Engage in real conversation – Talk with people, not just machines. Connection sharpens thinking.
Stretch your brain offline – Read, write, walk, observe. Analog experiences build cognitive strength.
Stay human – The goal isn’t to avoid AI; it’s to stay grounded and thoughtful while using it.
