AI: Navigating the fine line between Ally and Adversary 

“This task requires too much time and effort. I will just use an AI.”

Ever since Artificial Intelligence (AI) entered our lives, this sentiment seems to echo across conversations.

Every day, something new and fascinating captures our attention. Whether it’s a trending Instagram reel or a pioneering technological discovery. Yet, AI has been one of the most life-altering advancements of our time.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

According to Google, “Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technologies that enable computers to perform a variety of advanced functions, including the ability to see, understand and translate spoken and written language, analyse data, make recommendations, and more.” 

AI is a tool designed to perform tasks on our command, from generating a recipe to creating images or even analysing complex data. AI has become an integral part of our lives. It has been offering us with solutions at a lightning speed.

The Growing Dependency of the younger generation on AI

With AI providing almost everything at our fingertips, one question hovers at large: What role do we, as humans, now play?

Our knowledge, skills, and ability to think in critical situations are rudimentary aspects of what defines us as humans. Our capacity to grow and evolve sets us apart from other living organisms. If everything is readily provided, what becomes of the knowledge that we acquire and the skills we cultivate as we grow? Will all this be foreshortened to solely verifying AI-generated outputs, rather than being tools for innovation and problem-solving?

There has been a rapid increase in the use of AI amongst the younger generation, in particular. As AI has been gaining popularity amidst youngsters, it is being used daily to even perform the simplest of tasks.  Students have been using AI for tasks ranging from homework and projects to more creative ventures. 

It might be beneficial to use AI as a helpful tool, as it can simplify tasks. It can also improve productivity. Nonetheless, relying entirely on AI may hinder creativity, intelligence, and cognitive abilities over time.

What is Cognitive ability? 

‘Cognitive ability refers to the human brain’s ability to store memory, process, and extraction of information, including attention, memory, logical reasoning, and thinking transformation. This is a key mental quality of students’ completion of learning activities (Sternberg and Sternberg, 2009).

Young minds are often much sharper and more adaptable than those of older individuals. Children as well as adolescents have a remarkable ability to grasp concepts expeditiously and efficiently. They learn through observation, experience, and adapting to challenges, which helps to stimulate critical thinking and reasoning. This process does not merely apply to real-life situations but also to tasks like solving a simple math problem. This aids in fostering growth and problem-solving skills in younger generations.

But if these young minds are offered access to AI even for the simplest tasks, how will they cultivate their cognitive abilities?

How AI can impede cognitive abilities

Excessively relying on AI tools every now and then can hinder a person’s capabilities. Let us see how that might happen.

As AI readily provides solutions, younger generations often tend to exert minimal effort in managing homework, projects, and research. Though AI enables students to complete tasks more quickly, it can discourage them from developing their own innovative approaches. 

Continuous, effortless, and easy accessibility of such tools (for example, as many students rely on platforms like ChatGPT) can lead to procrastination, and then AI as a last-minute solution. While this might provide a convenient shortcut to them, it limits their long-term ability to think independently, learn efficiently, and forestalls their adaptability to face challenges.

If students research on the same topic on AI, they will be offered with similar outputs. This will also deplete the originality of their work and create work with almost no diversity. 

Recent studies and research have also highlighted, how students being increasingly dependent on AI might retard their ability to think and work independently. As students rely extensively on AI tools it might even create a hindrance to their creative exploration.

 ‘While students reported that it was helpful to “have another brain,” they also felt that using AI was “the easy way out” and didn’t allow them to think on their own.’ As quoted by Sabrina Habib (Associate  professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.)

Limiting the usage of AI just to an ally

Research indicates that misuse or overdependence on AI can harm cognitive abilities. AI tools have the potential to enhance productivity and creativity and can be beneficial to some extent if used appropriately. Proper and ethical use of AI tools can serve as valuable allies in learning and problem-solving. 

The usage of AI and its tools should be balanced and intentional, to ensure that AI remains a supportive tool rather than a crutch.

Sabrina Habib also stated, “The good news is that the students in our study generated more diverse and detailed ideas when using AI. They found that AI was useful for kick-starting brainstorming sessions.”  This study helps us to distinguish whether AI and its tools serve as a partner or a threat depending on how they are utilized. 

To ensure AI’s benefits are being harnessed effectively, schools and other academic institutions should adopt responsible measures to engage students with AI. They can transform it into a powerful tool for ethical access and innovative brainstorming.

Ways to develop independence from AI

Adapting to pioneering technology and integrating it into daily life is beneficial. However, depending on it for every task can obstruct individual growth and development. Therefore cultivating a balance by preserving some traditional academic practices is important.

Educational institutions should promote activities like library visits and research work. This would stimulate interest and accelerate cognitive abilities, logical reasoning and other skills. Teachers should engage with students’ classes to address tasks collaboratively, rather than assigning excessive homework. This will allow a greater focus on student’s holistic development.

Practical learning through field visits, interactions with nature, and conducting sessions beyond classroom walls can encourage brainstorming and fuel creative avocations.

In addition to this, students and younger generations should engage themselves in activities that would stimulate their growth and help them explore pursuits that would fit them. 

Humans built AI. Let us not make AI build us.

Ultimately, it is called ‘Artificial’ intelligence for a reason. AI complements, but it does not replace human effort and originality.

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