"Will AI make humans dumber?"
This question has been asked a lot lately.
Some people worry:
- If we let AI do everything, will humans become lazy?
- As we depend more on AI, will our thinking ability degrade?
- Will anyone still be able to solve problems independently in the future?
Today, I'll give you a real answer.
I'm Coder Wanfeng, an AI practitioner and AI user.
I've thought about this question seriously too.
1. Is the Worry Reasonable? Yes
Let me start with the conclusion: This concern is not unfounded.
There are indeed some phenomena worth paying attention to:
Phenomenon 1: Math Skills Declined After Calculators Became Common
This isn't a joke — it's something that really happened.
Many people now can't even do simple mental arithmetic because they have calculators.
But that doesn't mean calculators are wrong.
Phenomenon 2: Sense of Direction Got Worse After Navigation Became Common
Many people drive entirely following navigation and have no idea where they are themselves.
Once navigation has issues, they're completely lost.
Phenomenon 3: Similar Problems May Emerge After AI Becomes Common
For example:
- Increasing reliance on AI for writing leads to decline in one's own writing ability
- Increasing reliance on AI for analysis leads to degradation of one's own thinking ability
- Increasing reliance on AI for decisions leads to weakening of one's own judgment
These concerns are reasonable.
2. But the Real Question Is: Will You Use AI This Way?
But today, I'm going to give you a different perspective:
Whether AI makes you dumber depends on how you use it.
There are two ways to use AI:
Usage 1: AI Replaces Your Thinking
- Writing essays: Let AI write it, you copy it
- Doing math: Let AI solve it, you copy the answer
- Doing analysis: Let AI draw the conclusion, you memorize it
With this usage, your abilities will indeed degrade over time.
Usage 2: AI Assists Your Thinking
- Writing essays: You write it, AI helps you polish it
- Doing math: You solve it, AI helps you check correctness
- Doing analysis: You think it through, AI helps you supplement information
With this usage, your abilities will get stronger and stronger.
3. The Key Question Is: Who Is in Charge?
AI is a tool. Tools are neither right nor wrong. The people who use tools are right or wrong.
A knife can cut vegetables or harm people. The knife isn't wrong; the person is.
AI is the same.
- Some people use AI to be lazy, and their abilities degrade
- Some people use AI to power up, and their abilities explode
The difference isn't in AI — it's in you.
4. The 3 Abilities You Need to Develop in the AI Era
Since AI won't make you dumber, the premise is that you need to develop the right abilities.
Ability 1: Judgment
What AI gives you, you need to be able to judge whether it's right, good, or appropriate for you.
People without judgment use whatever AI gives them and are easily misled.
People with judgment treat what AI gives as reference and ultimately make their own decisions.
Ability 2: Question-Asking Ability
AI can answer questions, but the premise is that you need to ask good questions.
People who can't ask questions get poor results from AI.
People who can ask questions get powerful answers from AI with one good question.
In the AI era, your question-asking ability determines how much value you can get from AI.
Ability 3: Integration Ability
AI can generate content, but the content it generates is fragmented.
You need to be able to integrate these fragments into a complete plan or systematic thinking.
People who can't integrate get a pile of fragments from AI and remain confused.
People who can integrate can take AI's fragments and assemble a complete puzzle.
5. Final Word
AI is a tool, just like a calculator, navigation, or a knife.
The tool itself isn't the problem.
How you use it is the problem.
Use AI to replace your thinking, and you'll get dumber.
Use AI to assist your thinking, and you'll get stronger.
The choice is yours.
I'm Coder Wanfeng, with 400,000 followers across all platforms, creator of the open-source python-office library, focused on sharing practical Python and AI tips.
My personal website: https://www.python4office.cn — feel free to visit.
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