Overreliance on AI Degrades Skills, Study Suggests Using It as a Coach, Not a Crutch

ruthstarkman · x · 2026-08-07

A Science News article explores AI's impact on human cognition. Behavioral scientists at the University of Waterloo note that offloading specific skills, such as problem-solving or medical diagnosis, to AI can indeed lead to skill atrophy.\n\nTo retain skills or learn new ones, the human brain must remain in the loop. The article suggests treating AI as a "coach" that aids thinking rather than a "crutch" that replaces work entirely, which can actually encourage deeper cognitive engagement.

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