Artificial Intelligence Is Making You Slower and Less Creative
Artificial intelligence (AI) is often praised for boosting productivity and cutting down human error. Yet, evidence suggests that for many workers—especially writers—AI might be making them slower and less creative.
While future AI applications may handle mundane household chores or offer superintelligent assistance tailored to personal goals, concerns are growing. Some worry about job security, and others point to practical issues like rising electricity costs linked to AI use.
Studies Reveal AI’s Negative Impact on Creativity and Learning
Research shows that relying on AI can blunt creative thinking and reduce learning effectiveness. One study from MIT tested students with essay assignments; some used AI assistance, while others worked unaided. The essays produced with AI help were generally weaker, and those students engaged less with their creative thinking compared to those who wrote independently.
Another study by METR focused on experienced open-source developers using AI coding assistants. Contrary to expectations that AI would speed up their work by 20%, developers found their productivity slowed by 10% to 40%. The time spent fixing AI errors and figuring out how to prompt the system outweighed any gains.
Is AI Becoming a Cognitive Replacement? A Real Concern
Right now, AI isn’t a reliable substitute for human intellect—especially for complex tasks like academic writing. But the bigger question is what happens when AI reaches or surpasses human skill levels. Will users still engage their intellect, or will AI simply take over the work entirely? If the latter happens, writers and other professionals might lose opportunities to develop and sharpen critical thinking skills.
Thinking ahead about AI as a potential cognitive replacement helps prepare for a future where human creativity and problem-solving might be sidelined. For writers, this raises the stakes on preserving and cultivating original thought and mastery over the craft.
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