It wasn’t so long ago we worried about whether students plagiarised assignments. Now we have to worry about whether they (and we) can think.

What is the risk to human cognitive capabilities and capacity for critical thinking in the face of the proliferation of AI tools?

Two recent studies,  The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers and AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and the Future of Critical Thinking, both published this year, strongly associate frequent use of AI tools with reduced critical thinking; participants who heavily relied on AI were less likely to engage in independent analysis and problem-solving. Surprising? Not at all, but how many of us were seriously concerned about this risk even six months or a year ago? These researchers had a bit of foresight – and apparently still some capacity – to check it out. 

I’m grateful that there are people doing work like this. The fact is, though, that it’s a monumental task for us ordinary folks to keep up with the pace of change and the avalanches of new information we need to act as responsible citizens in democratic societies.

Just last week, some climate scientists called time on the Paris goal to restrict global warming to 1.5 degrees C (A worthwhile listen is  Fran Kelly’s interview with Jim Hansen).

So maybe, in the greater existential scheme of things, there’s no need to be concerned, anyway. But assuming we do get climate change under control, we might want to think about the risks of AI and AGI. There’s a useful article here, and I’ll be posting more, as I try to understand the issue of regulating AI, and the options of how to most effectively respond to make the most of its revolutionary beneficial potential and minimise the risks.