Is AI/LLM lowering your mental capability ? A guide for students and professionals

Understanding AI/LLM Users and How It Affects Mental Growth

With Ref to News:

MIT researchers have discovered that using ChatGPT for essay writing reduces brain engagement and learning over time. Through EEG brain scans of 54 students, those who relied on AI performed worse than others across neural and linguistic metrics. The study raises concerns that AI tools may hinder critical thinking and promote passive acceptance of algorithm-driven content.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/is-chatgpt-making-us-dumb-mit-brain-scans-reveal-alarming-truth-about-ais-impact-on-the-human-mind/articleshow/121955720.cms?from=mdr

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People use AI and large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for many reasons—learning, working, solving problems, or just getting things done faster. But we should also think about how this affects our brain—whether it's helping us grow mentally or making us lazy over time. Let’s look at different groups of users and what AI means for each of them.

A. Different Types of Users and Their Mental Growth Needs

1. Students

  • Class 9–10 students are just building strong foundations in memory, reasoning, and understanding. If they use AI too much just to get answers, they might stop thinking for themselves. But if they use it to ask good questions, clear their doubts, or explore topics, it can make learning exciting.

  • Class 11–12 students are expected to think more deeply and prepare for competitive exams. Here, AI can help explain hard concepts, give sample questions, or show different ways to solve a problem. But again, using it just for answers without trying yourself can weaken your brain.

  • Graduation-level students need to apply their knowledge and start thinking like professionals. AI can be a great help with assignments, coding, writing, and exploring new ideas. Still, they must make sure they understand the content and not just copy it.

  • Post-graduate students are expected to go deeper into subjects. AI can help them review research papers, come up with research methods, or create simulations. It should be used to support thinking, not replace it.

  • PhD students must do original research. AI tools can help find patterns, organize data, and write better. But their real value comes from deep thinking and unique ideas—which only humans can bring.

2. Working Professionals

  • Young professionals (0–5 years) are learning how to apply what they studied. AI can help them work faster—writing reports, summarizing meetings, or writing emails. But they must avoid letting AI replace their own learning.

  • Mid-career professionals (6–15 years) need leadership and decision-making skills. AI can be used to generate ideas, find industry trends, or improve team communication. If used smartly, it can keep their mind sharp.

  • Senior professionals (15+ years) are focused on strategy and mentoring others. AI can help them by giving new insights, summarizing long reports, or helping teams. It can also help them stay mentally active and avoid mental decline as they grow older.

B. Mental Growth at Different Life Stages

Let’s look at the mental expectations in different life stages and how AI can affect them:

  • School years (till Class 12): This is the time to grow memory, logic, and curiosity. If students overuse AI, they may avoid struggle—and without struggle, real learning doesn't happen. But using AI for diagrams, feedback, or to see examples can make things clearer.

  • College/Graduation: Now the brain is learning how to analyze and apply knowledge. AI should be used to expand ideas, not to shortcut learning.

  • Post-graduation and PhD: This is where students create new knowledge. Using AI to search literature, check grammar, or organize thoughts is helpful—but they should do the thinking themselves.

  • Professional Work: Professionals use judgment and people skills. AI can save time and support smarter decisions—but only if we keep using our own brains and don't let it do all the work.

  • After Retirement: Older people need to stay mentally active. AI can help them stay connected, learn new hobbies, or tell stories—but should not isolate them from people or real experiences.

C. Different Kinds of Tasks People Use AI For

People use AI for different types of work. Here’s how each one affects our brain:

  • Searching for facts (like on Wikipedia): This is good for quick recall, but not deep thinking.

  • Writing help (emails, essays, reports): AI can improve grammar and flow. But if we just copy what it writes, we lose our own writing skill.

  • Math or Coding help: AI can show new ways to solve problems or fix errors. But we must learn the basics first, or we won’t really understand it.

  • Brainstorming or thinking of ideas: AI is very useful here—it gives creative suggestions. But we should always evaluate the ideas ourselves.

  • Research help: AI helps find information and organize it fast. But it may not always give quality information, so we must judge carefully.

  • Decision support: AI can give options, but decisions should always be taken by humans.

  • Practicing conversations: This is good for building emotional skills or learning languages.

  • Planning and managing time: AI can organize our tasks, but we still need the discipline to follow through.

D. How to Use AI Without Harming Your Brain

To grow mentally and still enjoy the benefits of AI, follow these tips:

  1. Don’t blindly accept answers. Ask: “Why did the AI suggest this?”

  2. Work together with AI, not like a boss ordering it to do everything.

  3. Switch between using AI and traditional methods like books, discussions, or solving by hand.

  4. Sometimes do things without AI—just to test and build your own skill.

  5. Keep a journal where you write what you learned with AI’s help. This makes it stick better.

Research details. MIT website:

https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/your-brain-on-chatgpt/overview/

Collated by Dr M Khalid Munir, MBBS, C. Diabetes (Univ of Copenhagen). Hyderabad.

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