Is AI your Brain’s Best Frenemy? How to Navigate Digital Delegation without Losing Brain Cells
AI Image using Flux Lora created on Magai and put together with Canva, my favorite frenemies!
As a neuroscience writer focused on cognitive performance, I've been fascinated by the recent MIT research on how AI tools affect our brain function. Let's dive into what this means for professionals navigating the AI revolution – with eyes (and your laptop) wide open.
The Good, The Bad, and The Neural
Remember when some people thought calculators would make us forget basic math?
Well, ChatGPT is raising similar concerns – but on steroids. Recent MIT research reveals some thought-provoking findings about our "AI-augmented" brains:
What's Happening to our Brains?
Brain scans of heavy AI users show significantly lower brain activity in critical thinking and creative regions of the mind- It turns out outsourcing your thinking is the mental equivalent of binge-watching Netflix in sweatpants. (MIT study)
AI writers can't remember what they wrote 5 minutes ago - like that time you walked into a room and immediately forgot why (except now it's your whole essay).
The more we offload cognitive tasks to AI, the weaker our mental muscles become. Mental muscles getting flabby from AI dependency - who knew cognitive couch-surfing wasn't a recommended workout routine? Outsourcing your thinking to AI is the cognitive equivalent of swapping the stairs for escalators.
The "Cognitive Debt" Trap
Think of cognitive debt like a mental credit card – convenient now, but potentially costly later. When we consistently defer thinking to AI, we're essentially taking out small loans against our future cognitive capabilities.
We found that AI technologies such as ChatGPT may promote learners' dependence on technology and potentially trigger metacognitive "laziness", which can potentially hinder their ability to self-regulate and engage deeply in learning.- British Journal of Educational Technology
Every time you let ChatGPT draft your ideas, your brain takes out a loan against its future brilliance. The interest rates are neurological.
The mark of digital intelligence? Using AI to scale mountains of data, but intentionally climbing your own creative peaks.
Smart Strategies for AI Integration
One of the initial fears about AI is that it will replace human jobs. Many now say most jobs won’t be replaced by AI, but by humans that know how to use it.
This begs the question; if using AI diminishes intelligence, does being required to use AI foster cognitive decline? In an era where the threat of neurodegenerative disease is on the rise, does AI have the power to accelerate this phenomenon?
To sum it up, are we contributing to a long term negative outcome by using smart tools that lead to lazy minds?
In my opinion, AI is like any new technology. All things with immense power must be used wisely.
Use AI to find pathways, not walk them. The destination only matters if your mind remembers the journey.
Here's how to harness AI's power without turning your brain to mush:
1. Use AI as a Collaborator, Not a Crutch
Tactics
Start projects with independent brainstorming
Use AI to expand on your ideas, not replace them
Actively critique and revise AI-generated content
2. Practice Mental Fitness
Cognitive Crunches
Regularly alternate between AI-assisted and independent work
Challenge yourself to solve problems before asking AI
Maintain a healthy skepticism toward AI outputs (it isn’t always accurate)
3. Set Boundaries
Techniques
Reserve creative and strategic thinking for your human brain
Use AI primarily for routine, repetitive tasks
Schedule "AI-free" thinking time
The Bottom Line: AI is a Power Tool for Your Brain that Requires Safety Measures
AI tools are like power tools for your brain – incredibly useful but requiring conscious handling. The key is finding the sweet spot where AI enhances rather than replaces your cognitive abilities.
Do I use AI?
Absolutely. We ALL do whether you are aware of it or not.
I have been following its evolution fairly closely and recognize it has been quietly transforming our world for quite some time. I want to understand and utilize this progress rather than fear it.
AI is here to stay, so as my frenemy, I choose to have a healthy relationship with it.
Honestly, I have had fun playing with its capabilities and laughed at some of the outrageous responses. AI has gotten infinitely better since I started following its growth. My favorite ways to use it are when I get stuck or need a second opinion. I never take its answer for gospel truth, but love the pathways it can find quickly.
I have looked up research since the card catalog days and I have to say this saves me hours of time and provides a much more comprehensive search. I treat AI like a brilliant intern - I verify its research, question its conclusions, and always retain final edit rights.
Do I trust it?
Not completely. An AI-generated answer is like a Wikipedia fact: Useful scaffolding, never foundational truth.
But here is an important foundational truth to consider. One of the most crucial skills in today’s world will be deciding where to spend energy and your attention. Your cognitive bandwidth is your most valuable asset and it is finite. With a careful strategy that builds intelligence and capability, I am all for digital delegation.
If you are interested in learning how to use AI, it’s not too late to start. My favorite overall AI is Magai, created by Dustin Stout. He recognized early that the zillions of individual AI’s would be overwhelming and that the ability to save and organize chats was important. Most importantly, he has created privacy settings that preserve your work within it. Your work cannot be used to train other AI engines.
Magai brings together 50+ of the leading AI apps for text, image and video generation for the price of one, and includes tutorials on how to use them. It includes Chat GPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and many more. It is only $20 per month and worth far more in value.
Want to try it? Click here to check it out. A woman I admire recommended it to me, and I will be forever grateful! (her advice is always spot on!). Disclosure: If you decide ultimately to utilize it long term I receive a small stipend but that’s not why I recommend it. I’ve been a fan since it came out and only recently they rolled out the referral program.
Your Turn
How are you balancing AI assistance with maintaining your cognitive fitness?
What’s your favorite “mental gym” activity to keep your brain in shape while working with AI?
Share your cognitive innovations in the comments below! ✨🧠✨
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Remember: Your brain is like a muscle – use it or lose it. But unlike your gym routine, you can't hire an AI personal trainer to do the heavy lifting for you!
The research that is causing all the buzz from the MIT Media Lab
Your brain on chatgpt: Accumulation of cognitive debt when using an ai assistant for essay writing task. N Kosmyna, E Hauptmann, YT Yuan, J Situ, XH Liao, AV Beresnitzky, I Braunstein, P Maes
arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.08872, 2025•arxiv.org