AI Chatbots Might Dull Your Brain, MIT Study Warns
Could chatting with AI like ChatGPT make you forgetful? A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab says it might. Researchers tested 54 young adults, aged 18 to 39, on essay writing to see how AI tools affect their brains. They split folks into three groups: one used ChatGPT, another used Google Search, and the last relied only on their own smarts. Later, the ChatGPT group had to write without help, while the brain-only group got to try the AI.
The results? Kind of scary. Over 83% of ChatGPT users couldn’t recall quotes from essays they wrote just minutes before. More than 80% of those using AI struggled to remember their own work. The study used brain scans—called EEG—to check how active their minds were. People using ChatGPT showed the least brain activity, especially in memory and focus areas. Those using Google Search did better, but the group using just their brains had the strongest brain connections.
What’s going on? The researchers talk about “cognitive debt.” That’s when you lean on AI so much that your brain gets lazy. It’s like using a calculator and forgetting how to add. This could hurt your ability to think critically, make you easier to sway, or even zap your creativity over time. Alex Vacca, a tech expert at ColdIQ, called the findings “terrifying,” saying AI might be making us “cognitively bankrupt” instead of smarter.
But hold up—ChatGPT itself pushed back. When asked, it said the study doesn’t prove it’s harmful, just that overusing it without thinking hard can be a problem. Plus, the study hasn’t been checked by other experts yet, so it’s not the final word. Another study from 2025 found chatbots can boost planning and memory skills, so the jury’s still out.
Why does this matter? Kids and students use AI a ton for schoolwork. If it’s dulling their brains, that’s a big deal. The MIT team wants more research to figure out if AI chatbots are a net win or loss for our minds. For now, maybe don’t let ChatGPT do all your thinking.
What do you think—could AI be sneaking away your smarts, or is it just a handy tool? The debate’s heating up, and it’s worth watching.
Sources: Cointelegraph, MIT Media Lab Study, PubMed Systematic Review
