AI has the potential to boost learning and enhance intellectual growth, yet every day I see it contributing to intellectual decline. Students, and even adults, are increasingly relying on AI to do their thinking for them, and it’s showing.
Sure, AI makes us more productive—it can summarize articles, solve problems, and even write essays. But when it comes to intellectual development, many are slipping into a pattern of dependence. They’re outsourcing their thinking to algorithms instead of using AI as a tool for deeper understanding.
Not long ago, I wrote about how curiosity is the key to unlocking AI's full potential. The students who actively ask questions and dig beyond surface-level answers will thrive. They’ll use AI to level up their knowledge and improve their skills. But those who only use it to complete assignments and avoid the hard work? They’re headed toward intellectual stagnation.
AI offers something powerful called knowledge distillation, where a large, complex model can teach a smaller one. This concept isn’t limited to AI itself—it applies to humans too. If we engage with AI properly, it can help us grow intellectually. But here’s the catch: it takes effort. And let’s face it, most people are scared of effort. The truth is, the majority of people will get dumber using AI if they’re not willing to put in the work.
On the other hand, those who are curious and willing to put in the effort will find that AI makes them exponentially smarter. They will learn how to use AI to deepen their knowledge, not just skim by.
The trick is to push against the tide of laziness. In today’s world, everything is just a prompt away, making it harder than ever to feel like any effort is required. But that’s exactly the danger: relying on AI to do the thinking for you is a surefire way to dull your mind.
To get the most out of AI, you need to make an active choice. Don’t use it just to get things done—use it to learn how to do things better. Rebel against laziness and start using AI to unlock your full intellectual potential.
