New research: AI is making people dumber. Here’s how to avoid the trap.

A new study from Microsoft confirms what many of us have already noticed: AI isn't just changing how we work—it’s reshaping how we think.

And the effects aren’t equal.

🔹 Some people use AI to sharpen their thinking—challenging, verifying, and refining its outputs.
🔹 Others use AI as a crutch—blindly accepting whatever it generates.

The result? The smart are getting smarter. The uncritical are becoming more dependent.

If this trend continues, we’re looking at a widening intelligence gap—where those who think critically with AI will surge ahead, while those who don’t will struggle to keep up.

Are you training your brain—or outsourcing it?

According to the study:
✅ Critical thinkers became even sharper when using AI, leveraging it to expand their reasoning.
❌ AI-trusting users became more passive, engaging less in deep thinking and relying on AI’s (sometimes flawed) outputs.

I’ve seen this many times - if you’re not careful, AI won’t just do the work for you—it will do the thinking for you. And in doing so it will make you redundant.

Here’s how to avoid the trap

1️⃣ Assume AI is wrong until proven right – Treat AI like an overconfident intern. If it can’t back up its claims, don’t trust them.

2️⃣ Use AI to challenge your ideas, not generate them – Instead of asking AI for an answer, ask it to critique yours.

3️⃣ Interrogate AI’s sources – If it can’t provide evidence, it’s not a claim worth trusting.

4️⃣ Change the way you prompt AI – Ask, “What are the arguments against this?” instead of “What is the answer?”

5️⃣ Stay in the loop – The best thinkers don’t just use AI; they stay ahead of how it’s evolving.

The Big Question

💡 Will AI be your competitive advantage or your intellectual crutch?

The workers who question, analyze, and refine AI outputs will become more valuable than ever. But those who passively accept AI’s responses may soon find themselves irrelevant.

📊 Where do you stand? Do you fact-check AI outputs—or do you take them at face value? Let’s discuss. 👇