Advait Sarkar: How to stop AI from killing your critical thinking

How to stop AI from killing your critical thinking

Chatbots might help you get work done faster — but at what cost? When we outsource our reasoning to artificial intelligence, we reduce ourselves to "middle managers for our own thoughts," says AI and design researcher Advait Sarkar. He examines the cognitive trade-offs of using AI at work and introduces a different kind of tool: one that encourages critical thinking, nudges reflection and actually helps you get smarter.

Offloading thinking to AI tools can erode memory, creativity, and critical engagement. Studies reveal that groups using AI generate a smaller range of ideas and remember less than those working manually. Instead of letting AI automate reasoning, designing tools that challenge and provoke thought helps maintain and strengthen cognitive skills. Direct engagement with ideas is vital for human agency and flourishing in a tech-driven world.

AI Can Boost Productivity, But It Risks Weakening Our Minds

Relying on AI to handle everyday knowledge work can shrink creativity, weaken memory, and dull critical thinking. Research shows that groups using AI assistants produce fewer original ideas than those who work manually. True progress comes when AI challenges users with provocations and encourages deeper engagement, rather than simply automating tasks. Designing AI as a partner for thought protects our agency and helps our minds stay sharp.