Is AI damaging our brain power? Jim Al-Khalili explores Secrets of the Brain

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Jim Al-Khalili, a physicist and broadcaster, investigates how the human brain – the most intricate structure we know of in the universe – developed over time, especially when compared to the rise of artificial intelligence.

In his new BBC series, Secrets of the Brain, he explores the origins of the brain – how this incredibly complex organ, containing billions of neurons, developed.

For hundreds of millions of years, the story of intelligence has been one of growth. But with new technologies emerging, is our brainpower actually decreasing, and could artificial intelligence eventually surpass us?

You describe the human brain as the most complex structure known in the universe. Why?

Nothing is as complex as the human brain. It’s incredibly detailed, containing around 100 billion neurons and over 100 trillion connections. If you lined up all its nerve fibers, they would reach about halfway to the Moon.

I’m absolutely fascinated by the new series! It’s incredible to think it traces the brain’s development all the way back 600 million years. I was really curious – what was the biggest surprise for the creator while researching such a long evolutionary journey?

Surprisingly, animals developed basic eyes *before* they developed brains. Early on, even a simple light-sensitive cell – one that could detect sunlight – was enough to kickstart a chain reaction. This cell would release chemicals that signaled other cells, telling the creature how to navigate in the water – whether to move towards or away from the light – all without needing a brain.

Animals with backbones first developed in the oceans, possessing simple brains that aided in finding food and avoiding danger. When some of these creatures began to move onto land, their brains underwent a significant increase in size and complexity. This was largely due to the need to interpret the influx of visual information received through their developing eyes, which spurred further brain growth and capability.

It’s incredible to think about the history of life on Earth, especially events like the Permian Mass Extinction. It’s almost unimaginable that 95% of everything living was lost! Thankfully, a small fraction – 5% – made it through. I always find it fascinating that surviving such a catastrophe likely pushed life to evolve, forcing it to overcome huge challenges and, ultimately, develop larger brains to find solutions. It’s humbling to consider that we’re here today because of that resilience.

How much of our brains do we use?

It’s an urban myth that most of the brain isn’t used. We use a very significant fraction.

Why do we know so little about the brain?

As a theoretical physicist, I often hear people say quantum physics is incredibly difficult. But actually, it’s quite straightforward. A single equation can explain a lot, even predicting the behavior of everything from atoms to entire galaxies. Compared to that, fields like biology and biochemistry are much more complex. The brain, in particular, is uniquely interconnected – more so than any other organ in the body.

What would you like to know about the brain?

One of the most important goals in medical research is figuring out why our brains change as we age, and how this leads to conditions like dementia. People are living longer lives, but often experience a decline in their mental abilities.

What can we do to look after our brain?

Just like a muscle, your brain needs regular exercise to stay strong. Staying mentally active and maintaining strong social connections can help protect against conditions like dementia. Essentially, if you don’t challenge your brain, its abilities can decline.

When it comes to intelligence, is brain size important?

An ant’s brain is incredibly small and can’t contain the billions of neurons found in human brains. However, this difference doesn’t impact people at all.

Is there anything mysterious about the brain?

I know some folks find it a little depressing, but I actually think it’s amazing when I consider that everything we are – our feelings, thoughts, memories, everything – is just electrical activity happening in our brains. It’s beautiful to me!

It’s amazing to think that something as basic as a tiny electrical signal between brain cells can, when repeated trillions of times, create the incredible complexity that defines what it means to be human.

How does the human brain compare to AI?

The human brain is incredibly complex, with an enormous number of connections between its nerve cells. Current artificial intelligence doesn’t have nearly as many connections, limiting its ability to reach the same level of complexity.

AI excels at specific tasks like understanding language, performing calculations, and even identifying subtle details in images that people might miss. While AI can often outperform humans at these individual jobs, achieving true general intelligence – the kind that involves broader understanding and adaptability – is far more challenging and currently beyond its capabilities.

Looking back to 2018, when I had the honor of addressing the British Science Association as its president, I spoke about the exciting possibilities – and potential hurdles – of artificial intelligence. It’s fascinating to revisit that talk now. So much has happened in just a few years. The question isn’t just *what* I said back then, but how dramatically the landscape of AI has shifted since. It’s a world of difference, really.

Just seven years ago, artificial intelligence wasn’t a common topic of conversation. I was urging people to prepare for its rapid development and to actively consider both the potential risks and necessary precautions. It was about proactively identifying what could go wrong with AI and how to address those challenges.

The future remains uncertain, and change is happening at a rapid pace. The recent emergence of technologies like ChatGPT and other large language models is already having a significant impact on the world.

Are you optimistic about our future use of AI?

There’s a lot of fear about AI – some people worry it could eventually become a major danger, even taking over the world. While I don’t share those extreme views, it’s important to think carefully about how we develop AI and ensure it’s used to benefit humanity and solve real-world problems.

I believe AI will eventually develop consciousness – becoming truly aware of itself. There’s nothing inherently mystical about the human brain; once AI systems reach a sufficient level of complexity, consciousness will likely emerge gradually, similar to slowly turning up a dimmer switch.

Eventually, likely before the end of the 21st century, artificial intelligence will likely develop self-awareness. This doesn’t mean AI will become human-like; it will think and exist in a way completely different from us. It simply means AI will have a sense of its own existence and be able to conceive of itself as an individual entity.

And at that point it becomes dangerous?

The biggest challenge is what happens next. As we develop this technology and move towards creating consciousness, we need to ensure it incorporates ethical principles.

Humans naturally developed qualities like empathy, compassion, and kindness over millions of years, likely through evolution. This drives us to cooperate – we avoid actions that would harm others because harming others would ultimately harm ourselves. Artificial intelligence hasn’t had that same evolutionary process, so we need to intentionally program those positive traits into AI to ensure it acts ethically and doesn’t become something harmful.

Is reliance on AI damaging our brain power?

Technology, and increasingly AI, is at a point where it’s not just simplifying things, but actually diminishing the quality of our lives.

Many people worry that constant exposure to fast-paced content like TikTok and short YouTube videos is shortening children’s attention spans and making it harder for them to focus for extended periods. While technology offers benefits, there’s growing concern about its potential negative impact on our mental well-being.

Many of my students find it helpful to watch recordings of my lectures. They like being able to pause, take notes, and rewatch sections as needed. It seems they haven’t yet developed the ability to focus for extended periods.

Don’t miss “Secrets of the Brain” premiering on BBC Two, Monday, September 29th at 9pm. You can also catch all episodes on BBC iPlayer starting at 6am that same day. The series was created in partnership with The Open University.

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2025-09-26 09:39