Worrying Study: Just 10 Minutes with Artificial Intelligence May Diminish Your Cognitive Abilities

SadaNews - A new study indicates that using artificial intelligence tools may negatively affect cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills within a short period of just 10 minutes.

Although the long-term effects of artificial intelligence are not yet determined, the study showed that reliance on this technology could significantly weaken brain performance in a brief time, according to what was reported by the "New York Post".

A test to measure the impact of artificial intelligence

The study was conducted by a team of researchers from prestigious universities, including Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Oxford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The researchers relied on a fraction-based math test to evaluate the impact of artificial intelligence on the participants.

Half of the participants were asked to solve the problems themselves, while the other half was allowed to use an AI assistant for about 10 minutes, before assistance was withdrawn during the last three questions of the test.

Better performance at first... then a noticeable decline

As expected, participants using artificial intelligence achieved better results in the first part of the experiment.

However, after being denied assistance, their performance dropped sharply.

The study's authors stated: "We found that using artificial intelligence improved immediate performance, but it comes at a high cognitive cost. After just 10 minutes of problem-solving with the help of AI, individuals who lost access to it showed worse performance and surrendered more compared to those who didn't use it at all."

Decreased solving rate and increased surrender rate

The results showed that the success rate in solving problems among the group that previously used artificial intelligence decreased by 20 percent compared to the group that never used it.

Moreover, individuals from the group that had their smart assistance withdrawn were twice as likely to skip questions or leave them unanswered.

Similar results in reading comprehension tests

The researchers also used a similar methodology to test reading comprehension skills and arrived at comparable results.

Although artificial intelligence did not grant participants a clear advantage in the first part of the reading test, reliance on it later affected their ability to rely on their own comprehension and reasoning skills.

The way of using artificial intelligence makes a difference

The researchers noted that the impact of artificial intelligence was not uniform across all participants.

Sixty-one percent of users reported that they asked the AI for direct solutions.

In contrast, participants who used it for hints, clarifications, or guidance instead of ready-made answers did not record the same decline in problem-solving abilities.

The researchers believe that these results indicate that artificial intelligence is not harmful to cognitive abilities in all cases, but complete reliance on it may weaken independent thinking and problem-solving skills.

Warning of cumulative effects

The study's authors stated: "Just 10 to 15 minutes of interaction with artificial intelligence may lead to a noticeable decline in independent performance and persistence, which are fundamental capabilities for lifelong learning."

They added: "If short exposure to these tools causes measurable decline, the cumulative effects of daily use over months or years could be profound and difficult to reverse."

Does artificial intelligence lead to a cognitive crisis?

These findings come at a time when warnings about the potential effects of artificial intelligence on the human brain are increasing.

Previous research has indicated that excessive use of these tools may weaken the brain systems responsible for curiosity, attention, complex thinking, and executive functions.

Conversely, critics of these concerns point out that many technological innovations, such as calculators, GPS systems, and smartphones, have also changed ways of thinking and working without leading to widespread cognitive crises.

However, researchers emphasize that current AI systems differ from previous tools as they provide immediate answers to most questions and rarely refuse to assist, making them a new form of "cognitive support" that may lessen human reliance on their own mental capabilities.