Is AI Actually Rotting Our Brains and Stealing Our Jobs?
Students relying on AI to write essays may be losing essential writing skills, according to recent observations. This raises questions about the purpose of education, especially as college costs rise and job markets get tougher. Does using AI to finish homework faster hurt students’ chances of landing meaningful jobs?
Consider the case of Alex, a student who switched from arts to accounting to pursue a CPA and a clear career path. He used AI tools like ChatGPT and others to complete writing assignments quickly, sometimes submitting work generated from AI interpreting photographs and museum texts. Alex earned good grades while spending a fraction of the time he would have otherwise. While some educators might see this as cheating, Alex was cutting through parts of his education he viewed as irrelevant to his career goals.
If Alex were an employee, his efficiency would likely be rewarded. The problem is that without demonstrating deeper skills, he may never get the chance.
The Promise of AI
Companies plan to invest $1 trillion in generative AI over the next few years. Most investments come from large cloud providers training AI chatbots. Businesses want to reduce headcounts by automating tasks like coding and customer service.
So far, the number of jobs cut due to AI is small. Out of hundreds of thousands of layoffs this year, only a tiny fraction link directly to AI automation. Still, CEOs are signaling bigger reductions ahead. Amazon’s CEO mentioned workforce cuts tied to efficiency gains from AI, and Shopify’s CEO halted hiring unless managers prove AI can’t do the required tasks.
Who loses jobs? Both new hires whose roles AI can handle and experienced staff who don’t adapt. Experts warn that up to half of entry-level white-collar jobs could disappear within five years. Meanwhile, companies may cut senior employees stuck in routine ways of working.
Is AI Destroying Our Brains or Freeing Us for Better Work?
How you use AI matters. Research from MIT shows that overreliance on ChatGPT can reduce brain activity and memory retention compared to relying on your own thinking. In one study, people who wrote essays without AI performed better in recall tests than those who used AI.
For writers and creatives, this is a signal to use AI thoughtfully. Here are three practical steps to benefit from AI without losing your edge:
- Identify what matters most to you. Focus your time on tasks that require your unique skills and creativity.
- Consider what you could achieve if freed from repetitive or tedious work. Freeing up time can let you push your craft further.
- Delegate routine tasks to AI. Use AI tools for the work that doesn't need your full attention, so you can concentrate on what you do best.
Writers who learn to work alongside AI will likely find more time to develop their voice and ideas instead of being bogged down by grunt work.
If you want to explore how AI tools can support your writing without losing your creative edge, check out some practical AI copywriting tools that help speed up the process without replacing your unique skills.
For those ready to build AI skills that complement writing, consider browsing AI courses designed for various jobs to find training tailored to your needs.
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