Will AI Make You Stupid?
人工智能会让你变笨吗？
难度：CET-6 偏难
刘立军供稿
Artificial intelligence (AI) promises greater efficiency and convenience—but is it silently weakening our ability to think?
人工智能（AI）会带来更高的效率和便利——但它是否也在悄悄削弱我们的思考能力？
Early Warning Signs from Research
研究中的早期预警信号
A recent MIT study raises serious concerns. Students using ChatGPT during essay-writing sessions displayed significantly reduced brain activity in regions tied to creativity and attention, as measured by EEG scans. They also struggled to recall specific parts of the content they had just written. This suggests that while AI may speed up tasks, it may also impair memory and critical engagement.
麻省理工学院最近的一项研究引发了严重担忧。研究发现，在撰写文章的过程中使用 ChatGPT 的学生，通过脑电图扫描测量的其与创造力和注意力相关的脑区活动显著减少。他们还难以回忆起自己刚刚写过的内容的具体部分。这表明，尽管人工智能可能加快任务的完成速度，但也可能损害记忆力和深度思考能力。
This isn’t an isolated finding. Microsoft Research surveyed 319 professionals regularly using generative AI for over 900 tasks. Only around 60% of those tasks required deep thinking—most were routine and described as “mindless.” The majority of respondents admitted they exerted significantly less mental effort when using AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot.
这并非孤立现象。微软研究院对319名经常使用生成式人工智能完成900多项任务的专业人士进行了调查。结果显示，只有大约60%的任务需要深入思考——大多数任务都是例行公事，被描述为“不动脑筋”的工作。大多数受访者承认，使用 ChatGPT、Gemini 或 Copilot 等 AI 工具时，他们的脑力投入明显减少。
Similarly, a study by Michael Gerlich at SBS Swiss Business School found that heavy AI users scored lower on critical-thinking assessments. Hundreds of educators reached out to him afterward, confirming they’ve seen the same trend in classrooms: students increasingly dependent on AI struggle with independent reasoning.
同样，SBS 瑞士商学院Michael Gerlich博士的研究也发现，频繁使用人工智能的人在批判性思维评估中的得分较低。研究发表后，数百名教育工作者联系了他，证实他们在课堂上也观察到了类似趋势：越来越依赖 AI 的学生在独立思考方面遇到了困难。
Is AI the Cause—or Just a Symptom?
是 AI 导致的，还是只是表象？
Researchers caution that these studies don’t yet prove a direct causal link. The MIT study had only 54 participants, and Gerlich’s findings may reflect a different issue: perhaps those who already lack strong critical thinking skills are more likely to rely on AI. Still, the consistent pattern across different studies makes this an issue worth urgent attention.
研究人员警告说，这些研究尚未证明人工智能使用与思维能力下降之间存在直接的因果关系。麻省理工的研究仅涉及54名参与者，而 Gerlich博士的发现可能反映了另一个问题：也许那些原本缺乏批判性思维能力的人更倾向于依赖 AI。尽管如此，不同研究中一致的结果表明，这个问题值得高度关注。
The Bigger Risk: Outsourcing Thought
更大的风险：外包思考
Throughout history, technological tools have helped reduce mental workload—writing, calculators, GPS. But as psychologist Evan Risko notes, generative AI introduces a new level of cognitive offloading. While it’s harmless to delegate arithmetic, offloading complex thinking—like writing, decision-making, or problem-solving—could weaken our cognitive endurance over time.
纵观历史，技术工具一直在帮助人们减轻脑力负担——从文字书写、计算器到 GPS。但正如心理学家 Evan Risko 所指出的，生成式 AI 引入了一种新的“认知外包”层次。虽然将算术任务交给机器无伤大雅，但将写作、决策或解决问题等涉及复杂思考的任务外包，可能会逐渐削弱我们的认知耐力。
This could lead to a self-reinforcing loop of “cognitive miserliness,” where users consistently choose the path of least effort. As AI becomes the default, our brains grow accustomed to underperforming. One participant in Gerlich’s study admitted: “I rely so much on AI that I don’t think I’d know how to solve certain problems without it.”
这可能导致一种“认知懒惰”的循环，即用户总是选择最省力的方式，且这一循环会自我强化。当 AI 成为默认选项，我们的大脑也会逐渐习惯低效运作。Gerlich博士的研究中有一位参与者坦言：“我对 AI 如此依赖，甚至我觉得没有它我都不知道怎么解决一些问题。”
The Economic and Creative Cost
经济与创造力的代价
Businesses are betting heavily on AI for productivity gains. But there’s a catch. Barbara Larson of Northeastern University warns that a long-term decline in critical thinking could reduce competitiveness—and make workers more replaceable.
企业正大力押注 AI 来提升生产力。但这也存在隐患。东北大学的 Barbara Larson教授警告说，长期来看，批判性思维能力的下降可能会削弱企业的竞争力，让员工更容易被取代。
Creativity is also at risk. In one study, participants were asked to come up with novel uses for objects like a car tyre or a pair of trousers. Those exposed to AI suggestions gave less original answers. For example, ChatGPT proposed using trousers as part of a scarecrow—essentially, trousers as trousers. A human, unaided, turned them into a quirky bird feeder. Clearly, relying on AI can narrow the scope of imagination.
创造力也面临威胁。在一项研究中，参与者被要求想象一个汽车轮胎或一条裤子有什么新的用途。接受过 AI 建议的人给出的答案缺乏原创性。例如，ChatGPT 提议将裤子用作稻草人的一部分——本质上还是作为裤子的用途。而一个没有借助 AI 的人则将其改造成了一种有趣的鸟食器。显然，过度依赖 AI 会限制想象力的广度。
Smarter Ways to Use AI
更聪明地使用 AI 的方法
The solution isn’t to abandon AI—but to use it more wisely. Dr. Larson advises treating AI as a helpful but naive assistant, not an expert. Dr. Gerlich recommends prompting AI step by step, rather than asking for a final answer. Instead of “Where should I go for a sunny holiday?” start with “Which destinations have the least rainfall?” This preserves the user’s role as the thinker.
解决方案不是放弃 AI，而是更聪明地使用它。Larson 博士建议将 AI 视为一个有用但不够成熟的助手，而不是专家。Gerlich博士则建议分步骤向 AI 提问，而不是直接要一个最终答案。例如，不要问“我该去哪里度假？”而是先问“哪些地方降雨最少？”，这样可以保留用户作为思考者的角色。
Microsoft researchers are also exploring AI designs that encourage critical thinking. Some experimental chatbots interrupt users with challenging prompts or probing questions—transforming them from passive answer machines into interactive thought partners. A concept that Socrates, the father of inquiry-based learning, would likely applaud.
微软的研究人员也在探索鼓励批判性思维的 AI 设计。一些实验性聊天机器人会通过带有挑战性的提示词或探究性的提问来打断用户，将自身从被动的回答机器转变为互动型的思考伙伴。这种理念或许会受到苏格拉底——探究式学习之父——的赞赏。
The Limits of Forcing Engagement
强制参与的局限性
Yet even thoughtful interventions can backfire. A study found that AI “provocations” reduced performance in weaker programmers. And more forceful methods—like requiring users to generate their own response before accessing AI—are unlikely to be welcomed. As Microsoft’s Zana Buçinca explains, “People don’t like to be pushed to engage.” Indeed, a global survey by Oliver Wyman showed that 47% of respondents would use generative AI tools even if banned by their employer.
然而，即使是经过深思熟虑的干预也可能适得其反。一项研究发现，AI 的“挑战性提问”反而会降低编程能力较弱者的表现。而更强制性的方法——比如要求用户在访问 AI 前必须先自行生成答案——也不太可能受欢迎。正如来自微软的Zana Buçinca 所说：“人们不喜欢被强迫去思考。”事实上，奥纬咨询公司（Oliver Wyman）的一项全球调查显示，47%的受访者即使雇主禁止，也会继续使用生成式 AI 工具。
A Tool, Not a Crutch
AI：工具，而非拐杖
AI is still young, and for now, the human brain remains the most versatile tool we have. But we must be careful not to trade long-term mental sharpness for short-term convenience. If strong evidence continues to show that AI dulls critical and creative thinking, we’ll face a choice: adjust how we use it—or risk becoming intellectually dependent on it.
人工智能仍处于早期阶段，目前，人类大脑仍然是我们最灵活的工具。但我们必须小心，不要为了短期便利而牺牲长期的思维敏锐性。如果越来越多的证据显示 AI 确实削弱了批判性与创造性思维，我们将面临一个选择：调整使用方式——或冒着在智力上对AI愈加依赖的风险。
The question is not just can AI make us less intelligent—but will we notice before it does?
问题不仅仅是 AI 是否会让人类变笨——而在于我们是否在它将我们变笨之前就能察觉到？
【词汇】
1. offload v. 卸载，转移
2. miserliness n. 吝啬
3. quirky adj. 匆匆做成的，速成的
4. backfire v. 事与愿违，产生反效果
5. crutch n. 拐杖，依赖物
（本文图片均来源于网络，仅供学习交流使用，侵删）