Is AI Making Us Stupid?

Journal article

Trent N. Cash, Megan O. Kelly, Brooke N. Macnamara, Evan F. Risko
Trends in Cognitive Sciences, vol. 30(8), 2026, pp. 673-675

DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2026.06.004

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APA Click to copy
Cash, T. N., Kelly, M. O., Macnamara, B. N., & Risko, E. F. (2026). Is AI Making Us Stupid? Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 30(8), 673–675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2026.06.004

Chicago/Turabian Click to copy
Cash, Trent N., Megan O. Kelly, Brooke N. Macnamara, and Evan F. Risko. “Is AI Making Us Stupid?” Trends in Cognitive Sciences 30, no. 8 (2026): 673–675.

MLA Click to copy
Cash, Trent N., et al. “Is AI Making Us Stupid?” Trends in Cognitive Sciences, vol. 30, no. 8, 2026, pp. 673–75, doi:10.1016/j.tics.2026.06.004.

BibTeX Click to copy

@article{trent2026a,
  title = {Is AI Making Us Stupid?},
  year = {2026},
  issue = {8},
  journal = {Trends in Cognitive Sciences},
  pages = {673-675},
  volume = {30},
  doi = {10.1016/j.tics.2026.06.004},
  author = {Cash, Trent N. and Kelly, Megan O. and Macnamara, Brooke N. and Risko, Evan F.}
}

Abstract

Many worry that AI use will erode human cognition. We discuss evidence suggesting that offloading cognition to AI can impede skill acquisition and lead to skill decay, but risks depend on how AI is used. We also consider whether our basic cognitive abilities might prove more resilient to this erosion.