When I began college in 2022, the name “ChatGPT” was meaningless to me. The idea of using artificial intelligence (AI) still seemed like science fiction. Yet, less than three years later, as I complete my final year as an undergraduate, not a day goes by that I do not hear about AI in school, at work, or in personal conversations. I now use AI tools regularly to help draft emails, edit papers, and summarize articles. Some of my peers use AI more often and for a wider range of tasks, including making grocery lists, providing career advice, and even seeking mental health therapy. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has drastically evolved in recent years, becoming ubiquitous across higher education and in everyday life. While there are pros and cons to its development, research on the impact of AI on human cognition, including long-term cognitive development and decision-making, is just beginning to emerge.
[Kate Hurley, research intern at University of Michigan Information and Technology Services, explores] recent research suggesting that reliance on AI tools may pose risks to cognitive development and erode critical thinking skills — particularly for younger users — and call for a more mindful and intentional integration of these technologies into the daily lives of young people.
