What happens when we outsource our thinking to AI?
A recent MIT study holds a sobering mirror to our cognitive habits.
The Brain Scans Don’t Lie
Researchers strapped EEG electrodes to 54 college students and observed three groups: writing essays with no digital help, with Google search, and with ChatGPT-4o. The results were startling.
The ChatGPT group showed the weakest, most fragmented neural connectivity of all.
The Memory Problem
After writing, participants were asked to recall their own words. 83% of ChatGPT users couldn’t remember content from minutes earlier, compared to just 11% in the other two groups.
When you outsource thinking, your brain stops forming memories of the work.
The Dependency Trap
Strikingly, even when ChatGPT was removed, the AI-dependent group struggled to re-engage their cognitive networks, while those who began with brain-only writing used AI later as an enhancement rather than a crutch.
Practical Takeaways
Efficiency is seductive, but without deliberate engagement, we risk atrophying our mental muscles. Productivity tools should augment, not replace, our thinking.
The Three-Pass System
I follow a three-pass approach:
- Pass 1: Brain Only (15 minutes) – Sketch ideas and draft without any AI or research.
- Pass 2: Research & AI Assistance (30 minutes) – Bring in external help to inform and challenge your initial thoughts.
- Pass 3: Synthesis & Ownership (20 minutes) – Close all tools and craft the final version from your own understanding.
The Weekly Cognitive Workout
Dedicate regular sessions to paper-based problem solving, memory recall, and discussion without digital aids. The goal isn’t perfect output—it’s strengthening the neural pathways that make you uniquely human.
Final Thoughts
AI can be a powerful ally, but true mastery demands cognitive ownership. Tools execute tasks at machine speed; your vision, insight, and curiosity remain your greatest assets.
Don’t let AI make you ordinary. Let it make you unstoppable.