In my previous article, I wrote about the enormous demand for water resources needed to cool the data centres that support our indiscriminate use of AI. This time, I want to explore another aspect of using AI that receives even less attention. I refer to the rapidly growing reliance on AI for tasks big and small, and how it may be altering the way we think.
As a nutritionist, I often write about lifestyle and dietary choices that support brain health, especially in relation to memory and concentration. Over the years, our understanding of brain health has evolved considerably. We now understand that it is influenced not only by diet but also by physical activity, sleep, and other lifestyle habits. For instance, the long-standing Indian practice of discouraging children from playing outdoors so they can spend more time studying is now recognised as counterproductive. Physical activity has been shown to improve cognitive function, enhance memory, and support emotional well-being. In other words, exercise is no longer seen merely as beneficial for the body, but is now widely recognised as essential for the brain as well. Recent research also highlights the role of the gut microbiota in supporting brain health. The gut and brain communicate continuously through the gut–brain axis, and beneficial gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters and metabolites that influence memory, mood and cognitive function.
While we have become more conscious about protecting brain health through diet, exercise, and sleep, a new challenge appears to be emerging. The rapid rise of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, is beginning to influence the way we think and process information.
Researchers Steven Shaw and Gordon Nave from the Wharton Behaviour Lab at the University of Pennsylvania describe this phenomenon in their paper “Thinking: Fast, Slow, and Artificial”. They argue that AI is reshaping human reasoning and contributing to what they call “cognitive surrender”. As AI tools increasingly perform tasks that require reasoning, analysis, or synthesis, humans may gradually surrender those mental processes to machines. Other researchers have described a similar phenomenon as “cognitive debt”. Just as financial debt accumulates when spending exceeds earning, cognitive debt accumulates when we repeatedly outsource thinking rather than exercising our own mental faculties.
This is not the first time technology has reshaped our cognitive habits. When mobile phones became ubiquitous, remembering phone numbers quickly became unnecessary. Today, many people struggle to recall even the most familiar numbers because devices store that information for us.
Research on digital media provides further evidence of how technology can shape cognitive behaviour. A meta-analysis examining short-form video consumption like TikTok clips or Instagram reels has found associations between frequent exposure and reduced attention span and cognitive performance. In another study, participants performed worse on cognitive tasks simply because their smartphone was present in the room, even when they were not actively using it.
Social media provides another interesting parallel. It has achieved near-universal popularity, yet a growing body of research suggests it may negatively affect mental well-being. Some scholars have compared highly stimulating digital content to ultra-processed foods. It is designed to maximise immediate pleasure but lacks long-term value. Like foods high in sugar, salt, and fat, social media content delivers a quick burst of stimulation but leaves undesirable effects afterwards. Recognising these risks, the Australian government recently introduced legislation banning social media access for children under the age of sixteen in an effort to safeguard mental health.
The purpose of raising these concerns is not to resist or undermine the use of artificial intelligence. AI is undoubtedly one of the most powerful tools humanity has developed. In medicine, for instance, it is accelerating breakthroughs in protein folding research and cancer drug discovery, which are advances that could transform human health.
The concern lies in protecting our capacity to think independently. Critical thinking keeps the brain active, flexible, and resilient. Some neuroscientists have described it as the mental equivalent of jumping jacks for the heart. If AI is used indiscriminately for even the simplest tasks, such as writing routine messages and answering everyday questions, we risk gradually weakening those mental muscles.
Perhaps what is needed is not resistance to AI, but intentional use. Just as we have learned that a diet dominated by ultra-processed foods is harmful to long-term health, we may need to think of AI in similar terms: useful in moderation but potentially problematic when consumed constantly and without thought.
How to protect cognitive health
There are simple habits that can help preserve our thinking abilities in an increasingly automated world.
Read instead of scrolling
Setting aside time each day for reading long-form material stimulates deeper concentration and analytical thinking. In many ways, reading is to the mind what 7,000-10,000 steps are to the body.
Create distance from constant digital access
Keeping devices within reach at all times encourages habitual checking and fragmented attention. Interestingly, schools that have implemented phone bans have reported improvements in the academic performance and attention span of students.
Artificial intelligence is here to stay, and its potential to improve human welfare is enormous. But as the popular saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Using AI thoughtfully instead of reflexively may be one of the most important steps we can take to preserve our cognitive abilities and ensure that the tools we create ultimately strengthen, rather than weaken, the human mind.
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Ms. Neelanjana Singh, Nutrition Consultant & Author |
