Using AI Without Being Used By AI

AI is here and it’s changing the world. Used correctly, AI can be an extraordinary extension of our knowledge, ambition, and imagination. In the history of the world, it has never been easier to go from idea to reality. However, as with any powerful tool, using it correctly comes with real responsibilities. If we aren't careful, instead of us changing the world with the help of AI, it will be AI changing us by distorting our beliefs, impairing our judgement, and even giving us a false picture of reality. The worst part is that we may not even notice these changes because it feels like we’ve been in charge the entire time. 
 
Research shows that people interacting with biased AI systems became more biased themselves (Glickman & Sharot, 2025). In one study, the authors specifically note that participants were “often unaware of the extent of the AI’s influence,” showing how AI can alter human judgment while users do not fully perceive the source of the change (Glickman & Sharot, 2025). Other studies show that when people trust AI too much, they tend to do less critical thinking and they also retain less information. For example, one study showed that when students use AI for learning tasks, the work can feel easier while producing shallower understanding (Lee et al., 2025; Stadler et al., 2024). AI can also be surprisingly persuasive: personalized AI arguments can change people’s views more effectively than human debaters, and even “neutral” AI summaries can silently shift political or social opinions depending on how information is framed (Salvi et al., 2025; Shu et al., 2026). 
 
Learning is an effortful process, not a passive one. It requires repeated focus and directed mental to grow the neural spines and dendrites required for memory consolidation. Without neuroplasticity, changes in thinking, learning, and behavior are limited. If AI is used continuously instead of real mental effort, neurons will fire but they will not wire. 
 
A recent MIT study using EEG brain scans found that students who used AI tools like ChatGPT to write essays had a 47% reduction in active neural connections compared to those writing manually or using traditional search tools. Neural engagement dropped from 79% to 42%, showing a marked decline in cognitive effort. Students relying on AI also showed weaker memory retention, less neural connectivity, and a reduced sense of ownership over their work.
 
The warning is simple: AI can give people the feeling of knowledge, effort, authorship, and independent judgment without always building the real thing. In an AI world, critical thinking is more important than ever. The solution is not to avoid AI, but to understand how to harness it in ways that protect and empower your own unique thinking.