Ron Dyck
Adults Lose Skills to AI. Children Never Build Them. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-algorithmic-mind/202603/adults-lose-skills-to-ai-children-never-build-them
Adults Lose Skills to AI. Children Never Build Them.

Discussions of cognitive offloading often miss a critical distinction: What AI does to a 45-year-old's brain is categorically different from what it does to a 14-year-old's.

Psychology Today
Mar 25 at 6:08amWeb
Show threadRon Dyck16h ago

So many chilling lines! This one...

"When every student in a class processes information through the same language model, they are learning to reason through the same system. This introduces a new threat vector on the developing mind.

The model's statistical biases become the student's default framing. The model's reasoning structure becomes the student's reasoning structure. LLMs homogenize not just language but also perspective and reasoning strategies."

Show threadNini13h ago
@dyckron Hm, if you'd imagine LLMs to be a sort of mind virus that teaches thought conformity and reduces critical thinking it'd be a boon for any would-be authoritarian type looking to smooth out the kinks of humanity.
Show threadwall-e13h ago
@dyckron system works as intended 🫠
Show threadGiflian16h ago
@dyckron the purpose of a system is what it does
Show threadJust Tom... 🐁16h ago
@dyckron
I have worried about this. We offload cognitive effort and fail to learn. Learning requires a lot of work to establish and reinforce pathways. AI, by bypassing the work, deprives children of the opportunity to acquire cognitive skills.
Show threadRon Dyck16h ago
@tompearce49 I think the big question is, will it become locked-in before we have a lost generation? It's becoming apparent the widespread switch to EdTech devices has had negative results, compared to that this is like the iceberg and the Titanic!
Show threadJust Tom... 🐁15h ago
@dyckron
It is indeed!
Show threadGentleman Technologist15h ago

@dyckron the paper that they reference (https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/1/6) only states a correlation between age, critical thinking, and AI use.

We would expect this regardless of the actual technology. We develop better critical thinking skills as we age. Young people are far more comfortable using newer technologies.

I would expect this exact same correlation if you measured age, critical thinking and VCR use in the early 80’s

AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and the Future of Critical Thinking

The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has transformed numerous aspects of daily life, yet its impact on critical thinking remains underexplored. This study investigates the relationship between AI tool usage and critical thinking skills, focusing on cognitive offloading as a mediating factor. Utilising a mixed-method approach, we conducted surveys and in-depth interviews with 666 participants across diverse age groups and educational backgrounds. Quantitative data were analysed using ANOVA and correlation analysis, while qualitative insights were obtained through thematic analysis of interview transcripts. The findings revealed a significant negative correlation between frequent AI tool usage and critical thinking abilities, mediated by increased cognitive offloading. Younger participants exhibited higher dependence on AI tools and lower critical thinking scores compared to older participants. Furthermore, higher educational attainment was associated with better critical thinking skills, regardless of AI usage. These results highlight the potential cognitive costs of AI tool reliance, emphasising the need for educational strategies that promote critical engagement with AI technologies. This study contributes to the growing discourse on AI’s cognitive implications, offering practical recommendations for mitigating its adverse effects on critical thinking. The findings underscore the importance of fostering critical thinking in an AI-driven world, making this research essential reading for educators, policymakers, and technologists.

MDPI
Show threadGraeme 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿12h ago
@dyckron Does that mean it makes Trump voters better or worse? Hard to tell...
Show threadAngela Scholder9h ago
@dyckron But, but, but AI is going to make us more productive and creative.......
Show threadAngela Scholder9h ago
@dyckron Well, like dumb workers brain-dead on an assembly line, always all day moving one and the same part in place.....
Show threadMason Loring Bliss8h ago

@dyckron I'm a bit suspicious here and I'm not sure I'm going to trust this guy. I started reading and found it interesting, but then I found a typo. In looking for a way to contact him so he could fix the typo ("task" where he wanted "tasks") I found what might be a significant conflict of interest.

From the author's bio:

"Timothy Cook, M.Ed., is an Educational AI Developer and Founder of ConnectedClassroom.org who investigates the impact of AI on learning processes and cognitive development in educational settings. With over a decade of international teaching experience across four countries, Timothy brings a unique perspective on how algorithmic systems reshape student thinking patterns, reasoning abilities, and learning outcomes. His AI development work includes creating tools that enhance rather than replace critical thinking, allowing students to engage with technology as thoughtful creators rather than passive consumers. Timothy offers educators practical pathways to integrate AI meaningfully while preserving the essential human elements of learning."

Show threadBl4ckst4r8h ago
@dyckron and “All watched over my machines of loving grace”!
Show threadTom Northenscold8h ago
@dyckron This is a fascinating article. It makes a lot of sense to this Luddite.
Show threadBram Dingemanse6h ago
@dyckron sterk stuk. Hoe de Smiths uit de Matrix dichterbij komen
Show threadChris M51m ago
@dyckron my concern is we might see a widening schism between two groups. One group will improve their skills delegating part of their tasks to AI while the others will decrease their cognitive abilities by delegating their thinking and analysis to AI.