**Are you a professional aged 28-45 who feels your thinking has slowed down since embracing AI daily? You're not alone.** This phenomenon isn't about laziness or lack of intelligence. It's about **working memory**, and how it shrinks when we outsource our thinking to AI.
Every time you ask AI a question, your brain loses a bit of its ability to find the answer alone. This is supported by findings from neuroscientists like Benjamin Bergen, who studies language processing in the brain [1]. When AI takes over, certain neural pathways become dormant, leading to **cognitive decline**.
Feeling that your thinking has gotten slower and shallower isn't just a feeling. It's a sign that your brain is outsourcing more cognitive tasks than it should. You might notice:
### **1. Set Cognitive Limits**
Limit your use of AI for tasks your brain can handle independently. Start with small changes, like:
### **2. Practice Active Recall**
Make it a habit to recall information from memory actively. This could be as simple as trying to remember someone's name instead of pulling out your phone for a quick search.
### **3. Engage in Mental Workouts**
Like muscles, cognitive abilities improve with use and exercise. Try:
Remember, the goal isn't to abandon AI entirely but to **rebalance** your reliance on it. It's about using AI as a tool while ensuring your cognitive abilities remain sharp and robust.
For a deeper dive into this topic, explore the insights in **"The Outsourced Mind"** by Michael Harris.
[1] Bergen, B., & Chang, F.-F. (2005). Neural responses to linguistic stimuli: A review of functional neuroimaging studies. Language and Cognitive Processes, 20(6), 743-789.