Microsoft Finds AI May Weaken Critical Thinking Skills

April 28, 2025 | 05:59 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A study conducted by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University revealed that using AI could undermine the critical thinking skills of its users. The research involved surveying workers from various fields such as business, education, art, administration, and computation.

The study found that individuals who have the most trust in the accuracy of AI assistants tend to think less critically about the conclusions drawn by these tools. This indicates the potential danger posed by the increasing use of AI in everyday life. As trust in machine learning tools grows, they can produce harmful content without awareness.

The researchers in the study, cited from a report by Live Science on Monday, April 28, 2025, said that when AI is used incorrectly, technology can and does cause a decline in cognitive abilities that should be preserved.

The study involved 319 knowledge workers contacted through the Prolific crowdsourcing platform. The respondents, whose jobs span various fields, were asked to provide examples of using generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, in their work.

They were then asked to explain whether and how they used critical thinking skills. The survey results showed that 40 percent of the tasks completed by participants did not involve critical thinking.

These findings highlight the impact of digital dependence on human cognitive abilities. Using AI in daily routines can reduce critical engagement, especially in tasks that do not require major decisions. This decrease in critical engagement raises concerns about the long-term dependence on these tools, which can diminish independent problem-solving abilities.

"Surprisingly, while AI can improve efficiency, it may also reduce critical engagement, particularly in routine or lower-stakes tasks in which users simply rely on AI, raising concerns about long-term reliance and diminished independent problem-solving," the researchers wrote.

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