Artificial intelligence may soon make humans obsolete in a way that’s not immediately apparent. Instead of replacing human workers entirely, we may become so reliant on imperfect tools that our own abilities atrophy. A recent study by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University found that as we use AI to complete tasks, we tend to do less critical thinking, making it harder to rely on our skills when needed.
The study involved 319 knowledge workers who reported how they used generative AI tools in the workplace. They found that those who were more confident in AI’s ability to complete a task were more likely to let their hands off and not think critically. This was especially true for lower-stakes tasks, where people tend to be less critical.
However, when workers had less confidence in AI’s capability, they engaged more in critical thinking and reported higher confidence in their own abilities. The study also found that users who had access to generative AI tools produced fewer diverse outcomes compared to those without, which can be seen as a sign of “deterioration of critical thinking.”
As workers rely heavily on AI tools, they start to lose muscle memory and critical engagement with tasks. This can create a self-fulfilling prophecy where we become so reliant on machines that we actually get replaced by them. The study highlights the need for caution when using AI tools and emphasizes the importance of maintaining our own critical thinking skills.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/microsoft-study-finds-relying-on-ai-kills-your-critical-thinking-skills-2000561788