A recent study from MIT’s Media Lab has raised concerns about the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on students’ cognitive abilities. The research suggests that while ChatGPT can make tasks more convenient, relying too heavily on it may actually reduce brain activity and critical thinking among students.
The study involved 54 participants aged between 18 and 39, divided into three groups. Each group was asked to write SAT-style essays using either ChatGPT, Google Search, or no digital assistance at all. Researchers monitored the participants’ brain activity using EEG scans, tracking engagement across 32 brain regions.
The results were striking. Students who used ChatGPT showed the lowest brain activity, especially in areas linked to creativity, memory, and deep thinking. Their essays also lacked originality, and many simply copied and pasted AI-generated content without much personal input or reflection. Over time, these students became more passive, showing less engagement with the material.
In contrast, students who wrote essays without any digital help demonstrated the highest levels of brain activity. They reported greater satisfaction and a stronger sense of ownership over their work. Their brains showed more connectivity in regions associated with creative thinking and memory retention.
Interestingly, the group using Google Search displayed relatively high brain engagement as well, indicating that traditional online research still encourages active thought and analysis. This highlights a key difference: while search engines prompt users to sift through information and make decisions, AI chatbots can make it tempting to accept ready-made answers without deeper consideration.
To further test the effects, researchers asked participants to swap methods for a second round of essay writing. Those who had used ChatGPT first struggled to recall their previous work and showed weak cognitive engagement when writing without assistance. Meanwhile, participants who had started without digital tools showed increased brain activity when they later used ChatGPT, suggesting that AI can be helpful when it complements, rather than replaces, human thinking.
The study concludes that while AI tools like ChatGPT can boost productivity in the short term, overreliance may harm students’ ability to learn, analyze, and think critically in the long run. The researchers recommend using AI as a supplement to, not a substitute for, genuine intellectual effort and creativity.
