Is ChatGPT making us dumb? MIT brain scans reveal alarming truth about AI's impact on the human mind

Time of India

5 hours ago

It's quick, it's clever, and it answers almost everything—no wonder millions around the world rely on ChatGPT. But could this digital genie be dulling our minds with every wish we make? According to a startling new study by scientists at MIT's Media Lab, the answer may be yes. Researchers have now found that excessive use of AI tools like
ChatGPT
could be quietly eroding your memory, critical thinking, and even your brain activity.
Published on arXiv, the study titled 'The Cognitive Cost of Using LLMs' explores how language models—especially ChatGPT—affect the brain's ability to think, learn, and retain information.
Brain vs Bot: How the Study Was Done
To examine what they call the 'cognitive cost' of using large language models (LLMs), MIT researchers tracked 54 students over a four-month period using electroencephalography (EEG) devices to monitor brain activity. The participants were divided into three groups: one used ChatGPT, another relied on Google, and the last used no external help at all—dubbed the 'Brain-only' group.
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While the AI-powered group initially showed faster results, the long-term findings were more sobering. Students who depended on ChatGPT for essay writing exhibited poorer memory retention, reduced brain engagement, and lower scoring compared to their peers. As the researchers noted, 'The LLM group's participants performed worse than their counterparts in the Brain-only group at all levels: neural, linguistic, and scoring.'
— rohanpaul_ai (@rohanpaul_ai)
Google Wasn't Great, But Still Better Than ChatGPT
Interestingly, students who used Google showed moderate brain activity and generated more thoughtful content than those who leaned on ChatGPT. Meanwhile, those in the Brain-only group had the highest levels of cognitive engagement, producing original ideas and deeper insights. In fact, even when ChatGPT users later attempted to write without assistance, their brain activity remained subdued—unlike the other groups who showed increased engagement while adapting to new tools.
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This suggests that habitual ChatGPT usage might not just affect how we think, but whether we think at all.
A Shortcut with a Hidden Toll
The study also points to how this over-reliance on AI encourages mental passivity. While ChatGPT users reported reduced friction in accessing information, this convenience came at a cost. As the researchers explained, 'This convenience came at a cognitive cost, diminishing users' inclination to critically evaluate the LLM's output or 'opinions'.'
The team also raised red flags about
algorithmic bias
: what appears as top-ranked content from an AI is often a result of shareholder-driven training data, not necessarily truth or value. This creates a more sophisticated version of the 'echo chamber,' where your thoughts are subtly shaped—not by your own reasoning, but by an AI's probabilistic guesses.
What This Means for the AI Generation
As AI tools become more embedded in our everyday tasks—from writing emails to crafting essays—this study is a wake-up call for students, educators, and professionals. While tools like ChatGPT are powerful assistants, they should not become cognitive crutches.
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The researchers caution that as language models continue to evolve, users must remain alert to their potential mental side effects. In a world where convenience is king, critical thinking might just be the first casualty.