Expert Confirms: Artificial Intelligence is Eroding our "Virtue of Patience"

SadaNews - As reliance on artificial intelligence tools for instant answers and unprecedented speed in task completion increases, an American academic has warned that these technologies may carry a less obvious side effect: the erosion of the "virtue of patience" that has long been associated with deep learning and thinking.

Professor Christian B. Miller, a philosophy professor at Wake Forest University, noted in an article published on The Conversation platform that artificial intelligence is not only changing the way we search and write but is also reshaping people's expectations regarding the time and effort required to acquire knowledge.

Miller pointed out that students in the past spent long hours in libraries or researching multiple sources to prepare their studies, a process that required a significant amount of patience, analysis, and critical thinking. Today, however, artificial intelligence tools can provide complete answers in just a few seconds.

Culture of Speed

He observed that the internet began this transformation years ago, but artificial intelligence has taken it to a new level, where users no longer need to search or compare sources; they now receive ready-made and instant answers. He indicated that this pattern could gradually lead to a decline in the ability to tolerate delays or to handle tasks that require time and mental effort, which reflects on research, writing, and critical thinking skills.

The author referenced psychological research confirming that human expectations adapt to repeated experiences. Just as a person becomes accustomed to the speed of their new device and then becomes less tolerant of any delay, continuous reliance on artificial intelligence might make obtaining instant answers seem natural and expected.

Impact on Education

Additionally, the article provided an example of this in educational institutions, where some students might resort to using artificial intelligence tools to interpret texts or formulate analyses and critiques instead of doing this process themselves.

He also noted that the impact extends to other areas, such as preparing religious sermons, writing professional letters, and business planning—tasks that previously required hours of preparation and research.

Benefits of Patience

The researcher affirmed that patience is not merely a positive social behavior but a trait associated with a range of beneficial outcomes. Previous studies have linked patience to improved mental health, enhanced emotional regulation, increased life satisfaction, as well as improved social relationships and collaboration with others.

Miller also suggested several steps to counter this potential impact, including choosing the more effortful path in certain tasks instead of relying on shortcuts provided by AI tools, and setting aside time for reading and writing away from digital distractions.

He called on educational and cultural institutions to encourage direct intellectual interaction and not to integrate artificial intelligence into every aspect of work and learning.

At the same time, he pointed out that developing patience is not limited to research or study but can be enhanced through everyday activities such as exercising, engaging in crafts, gardening, and other tasks that require time and perseverance.

The article concluded that while artificial intelligence offers significant benefits in accelerating access to information, it may conversely lead to the loss of some mental and behavioral skills that are usually formed through waiting, experience, and gradual learning, foremost among them being patience.