Outsourcing Thinking To AI.. Are You Ready?

With the recent lauch of Deepseek R1, the one that has caught my attention how the AI models are fast turning out be not just answering from large set of data, but including reasoning before answering.

This has large implications of how in future we think, solve problems and our mind ability to work independently.

Here is what an Senior OpenAI researcher, Sebastien Bubeck, say something recently:

Everything is kind of emergent. Nothing is hard-coded. Anything that you see out there with the reasoning, nothing has been done to say to the model, “Hey! You should maybe verify your solution. You should backtrack. You should X, Y, Z.” No tactic was given to the model. Everything is emergent. Everything is learned through reinforcement learning. This is insane, insanity.

Said in plain English:

• The AI developed its own methods of advanced thinking and problem-solving.
• No human programmed it with specific strategies like "check your work" or "try a different approach if stuck".
• Instead, through reinforcement learning (trial and error), it discovered these strategies on its own.
• The AI effectively taught itself how to think systematically.

Here’s why this is so big:

• It's unprecedented that an AI could develop sophisticated reasoning strategies without being explicitly taught them.
• It challenges our assumptions about needing to teach AI step-by-step logical thinking.
• The AI found effective ways to break down and solve problems that humans didn't anticipate or design.
• AI could be teaching us about reasoning pretty soon rather than the other way around.

Are We Outsourcing Thinking

For centuries, we humans have prided ourselves on being the ultimate reasoning machines. Our ability to think, analyze, and solve problems has been the driving force behind our success against odds thrown by nature and other species.

So far, the tools, machines we invented were primarily to oursource laborious physical work or to some extent mental work. The machines by itself were dumb and obeyed what we wished.

But the rapid rise of AI and its ability to think, reason, one must ask: Are we gradually outsourcing our thinking to AI or Using AI to help us think and solve problems faster?

At first glance, AI and the human mind may seem similar—they both process information and make decisions.

But a fundamental difference separates them: our mind is a survival machine, not a rational computer. AI can be fundamentally different.

The Energy Miser: How the Human Mind Works

One way to understand human mind is, is through most complex and incredible organ we have that is human brain. Human brain though very efficient but it is also said an energy miser. Energy is the currency and human brain is very much tries to reduce usage of energy!

And among many activities we do, thinking is one of the most energy-intensive activities we can do. That’s why when we are tired, stressed, or sleep-deprived, our cognitive abilities plummet.

Imagine being forced to solve complex math problems after pulling an all-nighter. The brain resists, struggles, and ultimately gives garbage answers—not because we are incapable, but because the energy required to think clearly is simply not available.

Our brain evolved this way because, for most of human history, conserving energy was essential for survival. Thinking hard was a luxury, not a necessity. In dangerous environments, quick, instinctive decisions were far more valuable than deep contemplation.

AI: The Infinite Thinker

Now, contrast this with AI.

Unlike the human mind, AI has much less energy limitations. We can pile up data centers with unlimited power so, someone with AI machine isn't deprived on energy. it can work without getting tired compared to even best human brain.

It can process an infinite number of permutations, analyze vast amounts of data, and run countless simulations without ever "getting tired." AI doesn't shut down when overwhelmed—it thrives on complexity.

For an average person, solving a high-level optimization problem in minutes is nearly impossible. Even a genius faces limitations, constrained by time, mental fatigue, and cognitive biases. But AI? It just keeps going, learning, and refining.

This raises a crucial question:

What Happens When AI Becomes the Default Thinker?

We have seen this before. As automobiles have become widespread, the good part is we are able to use it to reach places we never thought could but at the same time the average human physical endurance declined.

Walking long distances has become unnecessary, and over generations, our physical abilities reduced compared to our ancestors. We aren't fit, energetic or have stamina like previous generations. Again automobiles are not to be blamed here, it is human mind that gets used to doing activity with less energy, it prefers that!

The habit part of brain will continue to seek least effort activities over difficult ones! Habit part of brain also makes what we do continuously it prefer that over something different.

This happens not just at physical level, but even at cognitive level.

So the question to be asked is What could AI have the effect on our thinking?

Will we still challenge ourselves with deep, critical thinking, or habituate our mind to see AI for most decisions and be under control of them?

Already i see many students are using chatGPT, Claude to give them quick answers instead of spending effort to solve the same using manual way. Ofcourse this helps one achieve things faster, quicker, but there is counter effect.

Ignoring that if we continue down this path, will the next generation be more capable problem-solvers, or will they simply be operators of thinking machines?

The Fine Line Between Tool and Master

New tools always bring progress. But history warns us: Tools should serve us, not enslave us.

The key is balance—using AI as an assistant, not as a replacement for thinking. It is fine balance and there is risk for many to fall in to habit of over relying on tools!

If we let AI handle all the heavy cognitive lifting, we risk atrophying the very skill that sets us apart: our ability to think deeply, creatively, and independently.

So as many pundits are busy predicting what is next deepseek will be, what all tasks AI can do, I think it is also time we should be asking how this affects our mind, with more advance in AI? Does the habits that are getting formed will ultimately serve us or against?

?? What do you think? Will AI enhance or diminish our ability to think? Let’s discuss.