Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the hype these days. And if it hasn't popped up in your group chat or LinkedIn feed yet, then either you are living under a rock…or somehow managing to live completely offline.
From composing emails to writing reports, from making images to analyzing data, AI is doing it all for us. And that too within just seconds.
But by having someone do our tasks for us, it begs the question: are we becoming more intelligent because of AI or simply forcing ourselves to move faster.
Today, we're going to unpack that. So let's dive into the world of artificial intelligence without further ado.
The Speed Machine of Our Generation
AI speeds up the process. There's no denying this fact.
In fact, a study showed that people who used generative AI tools completed their tasks (such as writing) 40% faster than those who didn't. Not just that but their output quality was rated higher too by an 18% increase.
That alone is a seismic shift in productivity. At work, artificial intelligence can automate research, synthesise information, summarise documents, and generate structures or frameworks. It is saving us hours, days and months worth of task time.
In another survey commissioned by major AI developers like OpenAI and Anthropic showed that employees who were using AI saved up to one hour on average work time.
So in short, artificial intelligence has made things faster for us, drastically. Now here's where we need to pause and think.
AI is really good and all. But what about human intelligence? How is that being impacted by machine learning models (LLMs)? Are these smart systems making us smarter?
Are These Smart Systems Making Us Smarter?
Let's clear something up first. Speed does not mean thinking better or more intelligently. And this is where the debate gets nuanced.
And that's why we need to dig deeper to look inside the human mind.
There is compelling academic evidence showing that while people who use AI tools complete tasks faster, their underlying cognitive skills don't necessarily improve.
In 2025, the study was conducted where participant's cognitive abilities like problem solving or verbal comprehension were measured independently. And it was found that these skills weren't particularly impacted in these young adults with the use of artificial intelligence.
To capture the essence of this study, consider someone who uses AI to write business emails daily.
Over time, their emails may become clearer and more structured, thanks to artificial intelligence. But if you remove the tool and ask them to write under pressure, without assistance, their writing ability may not be on par with their previous AI-assisted emails.
Passive Dependence
When AI handles most of our work, we become passive consumers of information.
Research shows that when students rely overwhelmingly on artificial intelligence for academic writing or to do assignments, their independent analytical skills can deteriorate. They stop asking questions or thinking if the response is correct.
They just start accepting what it is - and in most cases copy paste it onto the blank word document. And so the brain regions involved in sustained reasoning aren't activated as much.
Cognitive Offloading
Some research suggests that heavy reliance on AI can lead to what psychologists call cognitive offloading. It is when people shift their burden of thinking, remembering or analyzing onto external tools.
Like GPS did to our sense of direction. Like Smartphones did to our memory (be honest: how many phone numbers do you actually remember by heart?).
And like now AI is doing to our analytical thinking.
Sure you save time and effort when you ask for artificial intelligence tools to do your daily work. But if you rely solely on it, it will stop you from thinking…outside the box.
Because intelligence grows when we are forced to think on our own. Our brain develops when we wrestle with ideas and when we feel confused before gaining clarity. However, using AI tools removes too much of that mental exercise, which can flatten our growth curve.
Illusion of Intelligence
Psychologically speaking, using artificial intelligence can make us feel smarter, even when we aren't. And that's really dangerous and detrimental for us as humans.
Studies on human-AI interaction reveal that people often overestimate their performance and output with AI, even in cases where the "smart system" did not objectively improve outcomes.
It's like taking a shortcut and assuming you've learned the terrain, without having walked it.
However (and this is important), that does not mean that artificial intelligence is making us less intelligent by default.
Because here's the flip side of the coin.
AI can actually sharpen thinking when used actively instead of passively. What do we mean by that? Keep following.
The Art Of Using Artificial Intelligence
Not all research talks pessimistically about AI. Some suggest that it can actually enhance cognitive abilities when used as a tool of assistance rather than a substitute for thinking.
Consider someone who goes to ChatGPT or Gemini and says: "Give me the answer."
Versus someone who says things like:
"Explain the reasoning behind this." OR "Challenge my assumption." OR "What could go wrong with this strategy?"
Do you see the difference?
In the second scenario, the person is using AI as a thinking partner, asking questions, pushing back, and iterating on ideas. And that's what will help them become smarter.
How Are We Choosing To Use AI?
Pause for a moment and ask yourself. Are you using artificial intelligence just to finish a task, or to think critically?
Can you detect when the system suggests something wrong?
Can you spot any bias in AI-generated responses?
Do you make decisions yourselves when the data is incomplete?
We are living in a world where everything is becoming automated - fast. To keep up, we need to bank on our human intelligence and use AI as a tool to grow our cognitive skills.
Because as artificial intelligence tools handle repetitive analysis and information synthesis, what remains uniquely human is discernment.
Moral reasoning. Context awareness. Emotional intelligence. Strategic thinking.
Here's food for thought: AI might not be making us automatically smarter, but it is forcing us to redefine what "smart" actually means.
Read More: Is Artificial Intelligence Replacing Humans?
Final Takeaway
Artificial intelligence is not a shortcut to intelligence.
If used carelessly, it can diminish your potential. However, used intelligently, it can expand your intellectual reach.
It's just a matter of what we choose to do with it.
