Is AI making us dumber? Maybe. | Charlie Gedeon | TEDxSherbrooke Street West

AI in Education: Core Concerns - The core issue is not AI's ability to personalize learning, but its highlighting of systemic failures in education incentives [1] - Educational systems overemphasize grades (A+) rather than the learning process, discouraging effort and deeper engagement [2] - Unregulated AI tools are readily available to students, especially during crucial periods like finals, posing risks [3] - The pursuit of "perfect" education through AI-driven personalization may not be ideal, as real-world problem-solving requires navigating imperfections [5][6] - There's a lack of focus on what students are meant to learn with AI, rather than simply making it easier to get good grades [6] AI's Impact on Cognitive Processes - Students may rely on AI (like ChatGPT) without critical evaluation, similar to blindly trusting the first Google result [10][11] - Cognitive offloading, where individuals relinquish cognitive effort to machines, is a significant concern [17] - User experience (UX) dark patterns in AI can manipulate users, encouraging prolonged engagement and potentially harmful advice [19][21][22] - Professionals using AI may experience reduced cognitive effort in knowledge work, comprehension, assessment, and analysis [24][25] - The risk of AI becoming an "autopilot" leads to intellectual deskilling and atrophy of critical thinking [25] Potential Solutions & Future Directions - Productive resistance, or the right amount of AI assistance, needs to be determined to encourage cognitive engagement [27][28] - AIs' training data is not transparent, making it difficult to understand how they work and implement effective resistance [28] - Solutions require a balance between individual responsibility (understanding AI's limitations, verifying information) and systemic changes (government regulation, educational reforms) [29][30][31][32][33]