02/08/2025
MIT just dropped a thought-provoking study that’s raising serious questions about how we use AI especially tools like ChatGPT.
In the first-ever brain scan research on ChatGPT users, scientists at MIT tracked cognitive activity over four months and discovered something unexpected: using AI might actually dull your brain, not sharpen it.
During the study, participants had their brains scanned while writing with and without AI assistance. The results were eye-opening. 83.3% of those using ChatGPT couldn’t recall a single sentence they had just written a stark contrast to those writing without AI, who had no problem remembering their work. Even more concerning?
Brain connectivity scores plummeted from 79 to 42 a 47% drop in neural engagement, the sharpest decline among all user groups.
And the effects didn’t just vanish when people stopped using ChatGPT. Even in later sessions without AI, those who had previously relied on it continued to underperform, showing lasting cognitive weakening, not just temporary dependency. Their brains were simply less engaged. It wasn’t just about how fast they typed it was about how little they seemed to process.
Educators who reviewed the AI-assisted writing called it “technically clean but emotionally flat” describing it as robotic, soulless, and lacking depth. Sure, ChatGPT users completed tasks 60% faster, but they also showed 32% less mental effort in learning and critical thinking.
Interestingly, the highest-performing group in the study were those who started without AI and only introduced it later. They retained the most memory, showed stronger brain activity, and produced higher-quality work overall.
The big takeaway? AI is a powerful tool, but how we use it matters. Use it intentionally as a thinking partner, not a replacement for your mind. Speed is great, but deep engagement and mental strength are what truly drive growth. MIT’s early research is a powerful reminder that just because AI can think for us, doesn’t mean it should.
