Is ChatGPT Making Us Smarter—or Lazier
AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the way we work, write, and think. But new research is raising an eyebrow (or three) at what happens when we lean on them too heavily. A 2025 MIT Media Lab study tested students using ChatGPT, Google Search, and no tools at all. The results were stark: those using ChatGPT showed 47% less brain activity on EEG scans compared to students who wrote unaided. Even scarier—many couldn’t recall what they’d just written minutes later.
World-leading brain experts Dr. Daniel Amen and Dr. Terry Sejnowski warn this isn’t just about efficiency. Our brains need struggle and effort to build resilience, memory, and creativity. Skip the struggle too often, and you risk what researchers call “cognitive debt”—a kind of mental weakness that lingers even when you put the tool down.
When ChatGPT Can Shrink Your Thinking
The research highlights a few red flags:
Habitual use = lazy brain. Using ChatGPT for every task reduces memory recall and weakens executive function.
Overconfidence in AI = less critical thinking. Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon studies show people stop questioning when the AI feels “good enough.”
Younger users are at greater risk. Developing brains are more sensitive to shortcuts, and early dependence can stunt problem-solving skills long-term.
When ChatGPT Can Boost Your Thinking
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Used wisely, AI can enhance learning and creativity:
Brainstorming support. Studies show ChatGPT can help less creative individuals produce fresher, more engaging ideas.
Feedback partner. Treat it like a tutor: ask for critiques, explanations, or role-plays to deepen understanding.
Efficiency without atrophy. Alternating between AI and independent work keeps both memory and creativity engaged.
Practical Tips for Small Business Owners
For business owners using AI every day, the question isn’t whether to use it—it’s how. Here’s what the experts recommend:
Use AI to sharpen, not replace. Ask ChatGPT to test your ideas, highlight blind spots, or role-play your customer—don’t let it write your business plan while you check out.
Switch between AI and “brain only” tasks. Draft a blog outline yourself before asking AI to expand it, or summarise in your own words after AI produces content.
Be intentional, not habitual. Open ChatGPT with a clear purpose. If you find yourself copy-pasting without thought, step back.
Protect the next generation. Encourage younger team members (or your kids) to use AI sparingly, as a thinking partner, not as a thinking substitute.
Final Word
The risk isn’t ChatGPT itself—it’s using it as a shortcut to avoid thinking. The most successful business owners will be the ones who treat AI as a collaborator, not a crutch. Struggle and effort are still the gym memberships for your brain. Use ChatGPT to amplify insight, not to outsource it.
