Using Artificial Intelligence Responsibly

Introduction

What Is AI, and Why Does It Matter?

This project was about looking into how AI and computers impact the way that we think. Do they help humans to think better, or do they simply make computers do all of the thinking for us? Through research on the topic, it appears that the answer to this question is somewhere in the middle, but that AI is actually starting to replace the thinking that humans perform.

Artificial intelligence in the past was limited to the world of science fiction films. Today, however, AI is used in a variety of ways in our everyday lives. Whether it is spell check, chatbots that write essays for students, or even software that creates beautiful visual content for various uses online, AI is a common tool in the modern world. Yet the question remains of whether or not these tools make us smarter, or if they are simply eliminating the need for human thought processes altogether.

One study, published in 2025, tested 666 individuals of all ages. Overall, the study indicated that the more individuals used AI tools, the worse their scores were in tests of critical thinking skills. The youngest age groups (between 17 and 25 years old) that used the most AI tools also scored the lowest on the tests of their critical thinking skills. Researchers refer to this as the concept of "cognitive offloading," which is when humans allow another mind (like that of an AI system) to think for them instead of themselves. The MDPI study indicated that the more individuals used AI technologies, the worse that their abilities were to think for themselves. The researchers didn't think AI was making people less smart, just that their brains were getting out of practice at thinking for themselves.

The Research

What Can Go Wrong

The biggest risk of AI isn't that it lies to you (though it does). It's that you stop thinking. Here's what the research actually shows.

Cognitive offloading

The MDPI study found a pretty clear pattern. The more people relied on AI, the lower their critical thinking scores got, with the worst effect in younger users. It's not that AI makes you dumber on its own, it's that you stop building the mental muscle when you stop using it.

Another concept related to this study is the so-called "Google Effect," which is when individuals forget information that they know they can look up online. Using AI allows individuals to avoid having to think about information altogether. Another study published on this concept indicated that using AI tools in moderation can help human thinkers learn to avoid certain tasks and processes. However, overusing those tools eliminates the need for human minds to learn how to perform these tasks themselves.

Hallucination

AI doesn't actually know anything. It just guesses what the answer should be based on the information it has seen before. It will often make up information that is incorrect but sounds legitimate and informative, like fake quotes or wrong dates. So, as with any other tool, you have to double check any information that is important to you against reliable sources before you begin to believe the information from this tool called AI.

What this could mean long term

If people continue to use AI in the same way that they are today, it may impact the grades that students receive from their teachers but more importantly, it may have an impact on the next generation of students who may not be strong in the skills that are required for colleges and employment. AI cannot think for itself or solve problems for people. So, the solution is not to avoid using AI altogether but to use it in a way that maximizes its benefits to the individuals who have access to it.

Better Use

Using AI to Think Better, Not Less

The best use of AI is not to receive answers from it but to become better at finding the answers themselves. Instead of simply asking AI for an answer to a problem, ask it to provide a step by step explanation of how to arrive at that answer. Not only will this help you understand the topic you are studying but will give you the knowledge of how to apply that information to similar problems of your own.

Ask it to explain, not just answer

Instead of asking "what's the answer," ask "explain how this works step by step." That small change makes you actually engage with the reasoning instead of just copying the result. Once you get the reasoning, you can apply it to problems the AI has never even seen.

Use it to challenge your thinking

Create your arguments for a topic and then ask AI to argue against your argument by stating something like "what's the best argument against this?" This is what the best writers or lawyers will do in their profession. AI does not need to defeat you in argumentation but to help you prepare your arguments to be the best that they can be.

Practical Rules

How to Use AI Safely

If you are going to use AI, here are some basic things to keep in mind so you don't run into problems.

Conclusion

The Bottom Line

AI does not have an inherently good or bad nature but instead is simply a tool, like the internet and social media. Research into the impact that AI tools have on the thinkers of young children shows that using AI too much can actually impact individuals negatively in terms of their ability to think for themselves. However, if used the right way and not all of the time, AI has the potential to help students to learn new concepts and ideas.

Rather than being fearful of AI, people should treat it as another tool that can be used in the same way that others are used, knowing its capabilities and limitations and never allowing it to replace the thinking that each individual possesses about the world around them. This is what makes each individual human different from the others.

Sources

Research Cited

1. MDPI: AI tools and critical thinking Tested 666 participants across age groups. Found a negative correlation between AI usage and critical thinking, strongest in ages 17 to 25. Identified cognitive offloading as the cause.
   mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/1/6
2. RAND Corporation: Youth AI use survey (2025) Surveyed 1,214 U.S. youth ages 12 to 29. Found AI use for homework climbing across middle school, high school, and college, with over 60% of students expressing concern about it.
   rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA4742-1.html
3. IE University: AI's cognitive implications Compares AI-driven cognitive offloading to the "Google Effect" on memory. Argues AI takes the trend further by letting users skip deep thinking entirely, while noting moderate use can have positive effects.
   ie.edu/center-for-health-and-well-being/blog/ais-cognitive-implications