Is AI the Greatest Enabler of Human Laziness?

The rapid advancement and widespread adoption of AI, fueled by significant investment from Big Tech and government initiatives like the proposed $500 billion investment in Stargate, presents a double-edged sword. While executives enthusiastically pour resources into AI—with 68% planning to invest between $50 million and $250 million in the coming year, according to KPMG — concerns remain about the potential for misuse. As experts warn, the improper application of these powerful technologies could lead to a decline in crucial cognitive skills. This precarious balance, highlighted by the AI-driven "space race" exemplified by Microsoft's Copilot, necessitates a critical examination of how we develop, deploy, and ultimately regulate AI to ensure its benefits outweigh the risks to human cognitive function.

People don't know how to use AI to train critical thinking skills, and they're blaming AI for making them lazy.

The rise of AI has sparked a heated debate about its impact on human cognition, particularly in the workplace.

According to a recent Microsoft study, overreliance on AI can lead to a decline in critical thinking skills, leaving the human brain "atrophied and unprepared" for complex decision-making.

But here’s the truth: the problem isn’t AI itself — it’s how we’re using it.

The study highlights that individuals who frequently use AI for routine tasks tend to engage less in critical thinking.

This reduced mental exertion can gradually deteriorate cognitive abilities essential for problem-solving and decision-making.

The researchers describe this state as "atrophied and unprepared," painting a grim picture of a future where humans become overly dependent on AI, neglecting their own cognitive faculties.

AI is not the enemy here.         

The real issue is our failure to integrate AI in a way that complements and enhances human thinking, rather than replacing it. We’ve become too comfortable letting AI handle low-stakes tasks, like proofreading or basic data analysis, without realising the long-term consequences.

This overreliance doesn’t just make us lazy — it erodes our ability to think critically when it matters most.

The study also found that higher confidence in AI’s capabilities is associated with less critical thinking, while higher self-confidence correlates with greater critical engagement. This suggests that the more we trust AI, the less we trust ourselves. But here’s the irony: AI was never meant to replace human judgment—it was designed to augment it. When used correctly, AI can challenge our assumptions, provide new perspectives, and help us make better decisions.

Yet, too many people are treating AI as a crutch rather than a tool for growth.

Organisations must prioritise training programs that teach employees how to effectively use AI while still exercising their critical thinking skills. As Lev Tankelevitch, a senior researcher at Microsoft, noted, "AI works best as a thought partner, complementing the work people do."

When AI challenges us, it doesn’t just boost productivity — it drives better decisions and stronger outcomes.

However, the current trend of relying on AI for routine tasks is ALARMING.        

Depending on AI for low-stakes tasks might seem harmless, but it can lead to significant negative outcomes in high-stakes situations. If we don’t routinely exercise our critical thinking skills, they will deteriorate over time.

It’s time to rethink our approach to AI.

Instead of blaming technology for our cognitive shortcomings, we need to take responsibility for how we integrate it into our lives and work. AI has the potential to enhance our critical thinking, but only if we use it intentionally. We have to learn to view AI as a tool for augmenting human intelligence, not replacing it.

In the end, the future of critical thinking in the age of AI depends on us.

Will we let AI make us intellectually lazy, or will we harness its power to sharpen our minds and drive better outcomes?

The choice is ours.

The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers

Researchers surveyed 319 knowledge workers who use generative AI (GenAI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot) at work at least once per week. The study aimed to model how these workers enact critical thinking when using GenAI tools and how GenAI affects their perceived effort in critical thinking.

Analysing 936 real-world GenAI tool use examples shared by participants, the researchers found that knowledge workers engage in critical thinking primarily to ensure the quality of their work, for example, by verifying outputs against external sources. Moreover, while GenAI can improve worker efficiency, it can inhibit critical engagement with work and potentially lead to long-term overreliance on the tool and diminished skill for independent problem-solving. Higher confidence in GenAI's ability to perform a task is related to less critical thinking effort. When using GenAI tools, the effort invested in critical thinking shifts from information gathering to information verification; from problem-solving to AI response integration; and from task execution to task stewardship. Knowledge workers face new challenges in critical thinking as they incorporate GenAI into their knowledge workflows.

Therefore, the research suggests that GenAI tools need to be designed to support knowledge workers' critical thinking by addressing their awareness, motivation, and ability barriers.

Credit: Microsoft

The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CHI ’25, Yokohama, Japan ? 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s). ACM ISBN 979-8-4007-1394-1/25/04 https://doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3713778

References:

1) From chalkboards to chatbots: Transforming learning in Nigeria, one prompt at a time, published on 9th Jan 2025, https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/education/From-chalkboards-to-chatbots-Transforming-learning-in-Nigeria

2) AI might already be warping our brains, leaving our judgment and critical thinking ‘atrophied and unprepared,’ warns new study, written by Chloe Berger, published on 12th Feb 2025, https://www.yahoo.com/news/workers-using-ai-effectively-turn-173350927.html

3) The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers, published by Hao-Ping (Hank) Lee, Advait Sarkar, Lev Tankelevitch, Ian Drosos, Sean Rintel, Richard Banks, Nicholas Wilson, published in Jan 2025, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/uploads/prod/2025/01/lee_2025_ai_critical_thinking_survey.pdf

About Jean

Jean Ng is the creative director of JHN studio and the creator of the AI influencer, DouDou. She is the Top 2% of quality contributors to Artificial Intelligence on LinkedIn. Jean has a background in Web 3.0 and blockchain technology, and is passionate about using these AI tools to create innovative and sustainable products and experiences. With big ambitions and a keen eye for the future, she's inspired to be a futurist in the AI and Web 3.0 industry.

AI Influencer, DouDou's Portfolio

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