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Both Lazier And Yet More Productive
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot are changing how we work, but are they also changing how we think? A recent survey of over 300 knowledge workers from all professions… from writers to coders to marketers… shows that AI is helping people get more done. But there’s a catch. It might also make us less likely to think critically.
AI Helps Us Work Faster… But Are We Still Thinking Deeply?
Let’s face it, people love AI because it makes their work easier. Instead of spending hours writing a report or coming up with ideas, they can ask a chatbot to do it in seconds. And that’s great… until you realize that relying too much on AI might make you stop questioning what’s in front of you.
The survey found that when people trusted AI to do a task well, they were less likely to think critically about the AI’s answers. On the other hand, people who felt confident in their own skills were more likely to double-check AI outputs, think about whether they made sense, and improve them. This sense of control and empowerment is a key benefit of critical thinking in the age of AI.
What Does Critical Thinking Look Like with AI?
So what does it mean to “think critically” when using AI? It’s not about solving math problems in your head or writing everything from scratch. It’s about ensuring what AI gives you is useful and accurate.
Workers in the study described three main ways they used critical thinking with AI:
First, they thought carefully about how to ask the AI the right question. People who set clear goals and refined their prompts got better, more accurate answers.
Second, they checked if the AI’s output made sense. Was the information correct? Did it meet the standards for their job? Some even compared the AI’s answers to other sources or used their expertise to spot mistakes.
Third, they adjusted AI-generated content to fit their needs. Whether it was rewriting text to sound more natural or fixing code mistakes, they ensured the AI’s output wasn’t just copy-pasted without thought.
Why People Tend to Skip Thinking Critically
Interestingly, not everyone thinks critically when using AI, and there are reasons for that. Some people were in a rush and didn’t have time to double-check. Others thought their task was too small to worry about, like writing an email or social media post. And some trusted AI so much that they didn’t feel the need to question what it gave them.
One surprising insight was that the more people trusted AI, the less they engaged their brains… even when they probably should have. The study calls this “over-reliance,” which experts are starting to worry about. Over-reliance on AI occurs when individuals trust AI to the extent that they stop questioning its outputs, leading to a decline in their critical thinking skills.
Does AI Make Thinking Easier or Harder?
Here’s the interesting part: many people said AI made thinking easier… but not always in a good way. For example, when AI suggests a solution, you might accept it instead of figuring it out yourself. The study found that AI reduced the effort needed for most thinking activities, like summarizing information, generating ideas, or writing.
But for higher-level thinking tasks… like evaluating the quality of AI responses… some people actually said it was more challenging because they had to double-check everything AI did, especially if the task was high-stakes, like legal advice or technical reports.
Why This Matters for the Future of Work
If AI makes it easy to skip thinking, what happens when people forget to think for themselves? This is a genuine concern. People who stop practicing critical thinking might find it harder to spot mistakes when it really matters. The potential consequences of this could be significant, especially in high-stakes situations where errors can have serious implications.
But the study also points to solutions. AI tools could prompt users to think more critically. For example, AI could ask, “Does this answer fit your specific situation?” or “Do you want to check this source?” This potential of AI to foster critical thinking is a reason for optimism in the face of the ‘over-reliance’ challenge.
Also, companies could train employees to use AI as a helper, not a crutch. Making AI part of a teamwork process… rather than a tool that replaces thinking… could keep human judgment in the loop. This emphasis on human judgment is a reminder of the integral role we play in the AI era.
So, Should You Trust AI?
The answer is: trust it but verify. AI is amazing for getting things done faster and generating new ideas. But it’s up to us to stay sharp, question the results, and ensure we’re not handing over our thinking skills to machines.
When you use AI, ask yourself:
- Is this answer really correct?
- Does it fit my needs?
- What’s missing?
- What would I say if I had to explain this to someone else?
In the end, AI can do a lot, but it shouldn’t do your thinking for you. Remember too, AI does not have a moral consciousness. Pretty important.
