Will AI reduce our capacity to think?

Recently, I watched a video by Yuval Noah Harari where he discussed the future of AI. He mentioned that AI might end up doing so much of our thinking for us that it could actually reduce our ability to think for ourselves.

AI has been around for a while, but the new large language models (LLMs) like Bard and ChatGPT really bring this concern into focus. These models can have conversations and generate text that feels quite human, making them seem capable of handling more complex tasks.

This made me think about how technology has changed the way we use our brains in the past. For example, when calculators became common, people worried that students would lose their mental math skills. Calculators made it easier to do math but also led to a decline in mental arithmetic practice.

Similarly, autocorrect and spell check tools have made writing easier but have also made us less careful with spelling and grammar. I find myself relying on these tools more and more, which raises the question: Could LLMs like ChatGPT and Bard have a similar impact on our thinking?

If LLMs start taking over more complex tasks like decision-making and creative processes, there’s a risk that we might rely on them too much and weaken our own mental skills. This concern is similar to past worries about writing and calculators diminishing our mental abilities, though these technologies also led to new kinds of intellectual achievements.

On the flip side, Harari also suggested that AI could be beneficial by handling routine tasks, freeing us up to focus on more creative and complex problems. If we use LLMs wisely, they could help enhance our thinking rather than replace it.

In the end, while I’m cautious about the potential for LLMs to make us less mentally active, I’m hopeful about their ability to support and expand our thinking. The key will be to use AI in a way that complements and enhances our mental abilities without taking over completely. If managed well, AI could be a powerful tool for creativity and intellectual growth.