AI has been the most revolutionary technology of the 2020s thus far. Moreover, according to some, it might just be the most crucial technology of the modern world, surpassing the internet in impact and importance. You’ll also note that AI, or its recent iteration as large language model-based chatbots like ChatGPT, is a new technology, meaning we do not know the long-term impact on human health and behavior.
Of course, some studies have been conducted, including a June 2025 study backed by MIT. It is arguably too soon to say definitively how AI can impact areas like mental health and cognitive ability, but the study, covered in a TIME article, points to AI chatbots impacting our ability to employ critical thought.
What The Study did
The study divided students into three groups over several months and asked them to write SAT-level essays. One group consistently used ChatGPT, one used Google Search, and one used nothing at all (or textbooks, presumably). The upshot was that the ChatGPT group saw declines in brain engagement and overall neural behavior. The ChatGPT group also got lazier over time, resorting to more copy-and-paste tactics.
Why it Matters
AI can be a powerful tool for learning, but it also provides answers without explanation. Or at least, it gives players a reason not to seek complete understanding and the context of an answer. If an economics student is asked to write a paragraph explaining why there was a global recession in 2008, they can ask an LLM bot to provide an answer. Still, the full context of the recession can only be understood through study.
Does This Mean AI is Dangerous?
Not in and of itself. The study highlights missteps in how we use AI, rather than the technology as a tool. As a tool, you can ask it to do anything, from analyzing data for horse racing betting to providing a health check on your website’s codebase. Still, if you are using it to copy and paste answers without understanding what they mean, it will impact how your brain functions.
The impact on Young People
In June 2025, a viral video went viral on social media showing a UCLA student celebrating their graduation “thanks to ChatGPT.” We can’t take the video at face value without knowing the full facts, but it did become a talking point, focusing on how young people are more likely to use LLMs to navigate their education and how that might mean they aren’t learning “properly.” The MIT study pointed out that young people are most at risk.
A Note of Caution
As stated earlier, it is much too soon to draw definitive conclusions. The MIT study was conducted over months, not years. Moreover, there are often these warnings whenever new technology comes along – similar studies said similar things about the internet in the 1990s. Learning techniques and the human brain change over time. We must take a common-sense approach. If you use ChatGPT to ace a French exam, it does not mean you can speak French. Sooner or later, the cheat code will catch up with you.
