An OpenAI employee says an overreliance on AI-powered tools like ChatGPT makes us dumber — Our bottom percentile students are most susceptible

For several months now, a number of debates have been happening online primarily focusing on whether AI’s prolonged use could affect our thinking abilities in the future.

A recent study by Microsoft scientists has shed light on a potential downside of overusing AI tools such as Copilot: they might diminish individuals’ critical thinking abilities and potentially lead to a decline in cognitive functions.

An independent investigation conducted by OpenAI found that excessive reliance on ChatGPT could result in feelings of isolation, potentially undermining one’s self-assurance when making decisions.

Will Depue, a team member from OpenAI, expressed views that align with this idea. He believes that AI may potentially weaken critical thinking abilities in individuals, or even lower their intelligence levels (as suggested by ‘vitrupo’ on platform X).

According to Depue :

As a tech enthusiast, I find myself reflecting on the state of the world today. It seems to me that we’re witnessing an amplification of extremes, and this trend is particularly evident in the realm of artificial intelligence. In my opinion, the students who are struggling at the bottom end may find themselves falling further behind, while those excelling at the top could potentially gain an unprecedented edge.

Reframing the given text: “If I’d had this tool as a child, I believe my intelligence would have grown significantly more than it is today. For instance, I frequently engage with an AI like ChatGPT daily, discussing various topics and gaining knowledge on diverse subjects.

Yesterday, I found myself delving quite profoundly into a biological rabbit hole online, discovering some less common supplements.

I find this resource amazing for education, yet I believe it has a unique characteristic – bi-directional. Some individuals may struggle and potentially become less knowledgeable, while others might experience intellectual growth.

Are other people of the same opinion that using AI too much could make us less intelligent?” The user’s sentiment was confirmed.

Some people went as far as saying they felt like they had actually lost some of their thinking abilities, implying that they no longer found the need or desire to use their problem-solving skills because they were relying too much on AI tools for instant solutions.

From a tech-loving perspective, as artificial intelligence continues to evolve and outsmart us technologically, it sparks crucial debates about its long-term impact on our cognitive abilities. It’s subtly transforming various aspects of life, such as education, and there’s a growing concern that it might widen the knowledge gap between users.

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2025-04-08 12:39