Guardian op-ed: relying on AI may erode our brains like skipped exercise erodes muscle
nordicinst · x · 2026-09-25
In a Guardian column, Prof Devi Sridhar of the University of Edinburgh argues that near-universal AI use among her students risks long-term cognitive erosion.
- Her core analogy: just as muscles need resistance training, brains need regular cognitive exercise — and outsourcing thinking to AI removes it.
- She frames the concern through her own past misjudgment of streaming tech's health costs, warning that growth and profitability logic routinely obscures long-term societal harm.
- Conclusion: "we must not entrust tech companies with our long-term health," with a call for Nordic labs to steer AI toward health rather than hype.
A representative academic voice in the ongoing cognitive-offloading debate — opinion piece rather than new research.
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