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MIT Study Finds Brain Activity Drops When Using AI Chatbots

MIT study finds AI chatbot use lowers brain activity and retention during essay writing tasks

From Hacker News Original Article Hacker News Discussion

A study by MIT researchers found that using AI chatbots like GPT-4 for essay writing significantly reduces brain activity and leads to poorer fact retention compared to writing unaided.

Why it matters: Reliance on AI for learning tasks may decrease cognitive engagement and impair knowledge retention.

The big picture: Early use of AI in learning could foster shallow understanding, suggesting AI integration should be delayed until foundational skills develop.

Stunning stat: Brain connectivity dropped up to 55% in AI-assisted writers versus those writing without external help.

Commenters say: Many express concern about AI weakening critical thinking and learning, while others highlight the need for balanced AI use rather than total avoidance.