Opinion: Neural Networks vs. Human Brains: Who's Really Learning From Whom?

Tahawul Tech

14-03-2025

Iman Ghorayeb, a seasoned communications leader in the world of technology, has penned a compelling op-ed that examines how the convenience of AI is rewiring our brains.
At a recent teachers' meeting, my son's chemistry teacher went on an enthusiastic deep dive into how the brain learns—neurons firing, connections strengthening, knowledge sticking through repetition.
It made me think this isn't just about students cramming for exams. We're all constantly learning. And these days, a lot of that learning involves AI.
AI, much like an overachieving student hopped up on caffeine, absorbs massive amounts of information at lightning speed. But as we integrate AI into our daily lives, something interesting is happening—we're not just using it but we are also we're adapting to it: how we think, solve problems, and even how remember things is shifting.
So, who's actually learning from whom? Are we getting smarter with AI, or are we slowly outsourcing our intelligence to a digital co-pilot?
How Human Brains and AI Learn: A Side-by-Side Look
Let's break it down. AI and our brain both learn, but we do so very differently:
Human Brain 🧠 AI (Neural Networks) 🤖 Learns through experience, trial-and-error, emotion. Learns by processing massive amounts of data Forms new neural connections over time / neuroplasticity Adjusts weights / parameters through algorithms Uses reasoning, intuition, gut feelings Recognizes patterns, makes predictions Forgets things Never forgets Can get distracted, emotional, irrational. Only pretends to have emotions
At first glance, AI seems like the smarter one—it's faster, remembers everything, and doesn't procrastinate on social media. But intelligence isn't just about speed or storage capacity; as we get used to relying on AI, are we training it, or is it training us?
How AI is Rewiring Our Brains
Our brains, like AI, are always adapting. When we start using new technology, different parts of our brain kick into gear:
Prefrontal Cortex (The Thinker) handles decision-making and problem-solving. This is what works overtime when you're trying to figure out a new AI tool
Hippocampus (The Memory Keeper) stores new knowledge. At first, we actively think about AI commands; over time, they become second nature.
Basal Ganglia (The Habit Builder) turns repeated actions into muscle memory. Ever found yourself opening ChatGPT for something you definitely could have figured out yourself? That's your basal ganglia at work.
Dopamine System (The Reward Center) which gives us a little hit of satisfaction when things go smoothly, like when AI writes an email that sounds way more professional than I could.
Our brain's ability to rewire itself is that scientists call neuroplasticity; the more we use AI, the more our thought processes adapt around it. At first, we learn AI. But soon, we start thinking with it. And that's where things get interesting.
The AI Dopamine Loop: Why We Keep Coming Back
AI is dangerously convenient. The more it helps, the more we want to use it and we have our brain's dopamine system to thank for that.
It starts small: 'Wow, AI just saved me an hour of work!'
Then, it escalates: 'Eh, I'll let AI rewrite my whole report—it sounds better anyway.'
Next thing you know, you're outsourcing almost all of it, your text messages, resumes, and even dating app bios (not me). You start wondering if AI actually knows you better than you know yourself; ever wonder that it might?
Every time AI saves us effort, our brain rewards us with a little dopamine boost; the same psychological trick that keeps us doom-scrolling social media. The easier AI makes things, the more we want to use it—until, eventually, we stop trying to do things without it.
And that's when you realize: who's really in control here?
Final Thoughts: Are We Still Thinking for Ourselves?
One day, you might catch yourself speaking in structured prompts, thinking in autocomplete, and instinctively asking AI for answers before even attempting to problem-solve. That's when you know: this isn't just a helpful tool anymore—it's rewired how I think.
The challenge isn't just using AI—it's staying aware of how much we're outsourcing our own intelligence. AI learns from us, but we're also learning to depend on it in ways we might not even realize. The key is to pause, reflect, and make sure we're still thinking for ourselves—before our brains turn into nothing more than organic autocomplete systems.
So, are we training AI, or is AI training us? And if we're not careful…who's really learning from whom?