Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Debt. Studies Indicate the Cognitive and Emotional Debt is Real.
To continue the historical cycles analysis with technology adoptions, we’ll travel back about fifteen (15) years to look at the next component.
The Smart phone came on the scene on a massive scale in 2010. Studies have pinpointed that with the advent of the smartphone, we actually have already experienced significant cognitive decline. In a similar vane, with that the arrival of social media around the same time, studies indicate a similar debt has manifested. Our personal connections with others have diminished and for many people, the feeling of isolation has actually increased.
Evidence is now demonstrating that heavy Artificial Intelligence use results in increasing “Cognitive Debt.” Several recently published studies are indicating that even light AI use creates cognitive debt that only increases for those that become heavy users. To learn more visit these links below:
https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt
https://time.com/7295195/ai-chatgpt-google-learning-school
To gain your own understanding of what cognitive debt is, without the aid of technology, consider these three simple questions:
- From memory, can you recite the top three (3) to five (5) phone numbers of your closet family or friends?
- What direction is North, South, East and West from your current location?
- Do you have access to and would you know how to read and navigate from a printed map?
If you can answer the above without use of technology, you would likely be in the minority. Most of these previous life skills of easy numeric recall and self navigation have evaporated for the majority of the population indicating a cognitive debt exists.
As one recent and practical example, in group discussion sessions within our programs we continually learn from our AI education program attendees. Some participants elect to that share their own personal narratives and relationships with tools like Chat GPT. Essentially, many attendees are looking to use Chat GPT in the role of a personal life coach or as an easy access virtual therapist for emotional and mental support. They each describe a process of how they have, in a way, built a personal relationship with the AI agent for support and coaching.
Over time the session attendees have placed the AI agent in a role of both a close friend and life coach. Providing daily guidance on the ideal responses to every day situations, such as crafting replies to challenging or high emotion emails received. Multiple attendees describe to us how the AI agents have over time, “do a good job of understanding me as a person.” Take from these real world AI commentaries what you will and create your own observations.
In summary, these use stories we are witnessing first hand, are a very similar (and discomforting to us) psychological trend similar to smart phones and social media.
We see this narrative across all the various personas and industry domains of the many leaders that are leaning into heavy use of AI in their daily work.
What are some next steps to consider?
If you’d like to learn more about Artificial Intelligence, check out The Innovation Garage AI primer session offerings. In these sessions we present high level approaches that will support your organization to sensibly explore and create an effective Artificial Intelligence strategy for your organization.
Take a first step by reaching out to us here, or drop an email to i[email protected].
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