Researchers warn AI reduces cognitive resilience and undermines independent task performance

Source Domain: mezha.net

Ten minutes of AI help can make users reliant, researchers say. The study shows sudden drops in motivation and effort when assistance disappears.

A group of researchers from the United States and the United Kingdom conducted a large-scale study on the impact of artificial intelligence on our brain, and the results turned out to be at least concerning. The paper titled “AI assistant reduces resilience and harms independent task performance” highlights the conclusion that the use of AI can significantly affect our ability to concentrate and stay persistent in solving tasks.

The study asserts: AI assistance improves instantaneous productivity, but it comes with serious cognitive costs. According to the researchers, as little as ten minutes of interaction with the technology can make people dependent on it, and after the tools disappear, productivity drops sharply, fatigue sets in, and motivation to continue working without AI assistance declines.

As part of the experiment, participants engaged in “high cognitive load mental work” – tasks such as writing exercises, coding, and generating new ideas. These areas are among the most common use cases of AI technologies.

The study involved 350 Americans who were asked to perform tasks with fractions and ratios. Half of them were randomly given access to a GPT-5-based specialized chat bot to assist, the others had to work independently. In the middle of the experiment, access to AI was withdrawn.

«We find that AI assistance increases instantaneous productivity, but it has significant cognitive costs».

– Rachit Dubey

This led to a sharp drop in the number of correct answers in the AI group and an increase in refusals. Similar results were replicated in a larger study involving 670 people, and the final test – reading comprehension – showed a similar pattern. All trials indicate that after access to AI is restored, AI does not simply reduce the number of correct answers: most participants refuse…

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