A lot of people say AI is making us lazy. Maybe. But the issue is not whether we use AI. It is how we use it.
If someone asks AI to write for them, create for them, and make every decision for them, then some mental muscles may get less exercise. But that is only one way to use AI.
I recently came across an article claiming that AI could cause “brain rot.” The idea was based on research suggesting that people can become dependent on AI assistance. That concern is worth taking seriously. If we stop engaging with problems ourselves and let a machine do everything, there will be consequences.
But then I noticed something interesting. This article came from a conversation with AI. The curiosity behind it did not. The questions did not. The desire to challenge ideas did not.
One thought led to another. A question led to a reply. A reply led to a disagreement. A disagreement led to a new question. Eventually, an article appeared where there was no article before.
That does not feel like brain rot. It feels more like brainstorming.
People once used encyclopedias. Then they used search engines. Today, many people use AI. The tool changed. The goal did not. We are still looking for better answers.
The real danger is not AI itself. The real danger is switching off curiosity and accepting every answer without examining it.
A calculator can help someone learn math. It can also become a crutch if it replaces understanding. A guitar does not create music by itself. Someone still has to pick it up and play.
AI is no different. Used carelessly, it can replace effort. Used thoughtfully, it can challenge assumptions, organize information, and help ideas grow.
The value of AI is not that it can answer questions. Search engines already do that. Its value is that it can participate in a conversation.
The question is what we bring into that conversation.
⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ
