Artificial Intelligence: A Cognitive Assistant or a Substitute for the Brain?
We use it when working with texts, searching for information, analyzing data, planning, and even in forming personal judgments. Increasingly, people are no longer simply looking for ready-made answers; they engage in dialogue with artificial intelligence, refine their formulations, and make decisions with algorithmic support.
Against this background, an important question arises: how does regular use of artificial intelligence affect the functioning of the human brain and cognitive processes? The issue is not whether AI makes people “smarter” or “weaker,” but rather what structural changes occur in thinking itself.
Why Artificial Intelligence Is Not Just Another Tool
Technology has always influenced human cognition. The invention of writing reduced the need to memorize information, printed books transformed education, calculators freed us from complex calculations, and the internet minimized the necessity of remembering facts.
Artificial intelligence, however, differs from these tools in a fundamental way. It does not merely store or transmit information; it actively participates in its processing by generating answers, proposing conclusions, and structuring thoughts. As a result, part of mental activity is no longer carried out exclusively by the individual, but emerges through interaction between the human and the system. 
Which Cognitive Functions Do We Delegate to Artificial Intelligence?
Research shows that with regular use of artificial intelligence, people increasingly entrust it with the following functions:
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Formulation of complex ideas
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Initial analysis of information
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Summarization of large volumes of data
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Generation of possible solutions
This shifts the nature of thinking: instead of independently constructing solutions from scratch, individuals increasingly focus on evaluating, selecting, and editing ready-made options.
Behavioral Research: Effects on Thinking and Memory
One of the first influential studies on the impact of digital tools on memory was conducted in 2011 by psychologists Betsy Sparrow, Jenny Liu, and Daniel Wegner. The study demonstrated that when people know information can be easily accessed via technology, they are less likely to remember the information itself. Instead, they remember where and how to find it.
This phenomenon became known as digital memory displacement and laid an important foundation for understanding how artificial intelligence affects cognition: individuals begin to rely more on external memory sources than on internal memory resources.
EEG Experiment: What Happens in the Brain?
One of the most intriguing recent studies was conducted in 2024 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the leadership of Natalia Kosmina. Researchers found that reliance on artificial intelligence may have negative effects on neural activity, memory, and creativity.
When individuals habitually seek ready-made answers from AI systems, a state referred to as cognitive debt can emerge. By delegating independent thinking to artificial intelligence, people receive answers without fully understanding why those answers are structured in a particular way. In effect, the intellectual product is temporarily “borrowed” from the AI system.
Moreover, as cognitive debt accumulates, dependence on large language model (LLM) systems increases. In one experiment, researchers measured brain activity using EEG while participants wrote essays under four different conditions:
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Writing entirely independently
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Writing with the help of Google
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Writing using artificial intelligence from the outset
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Writing independently first, then refining with artificial intelligence
The results showed that maximum brain activity occurred in participants who used no external assistance. The lowest level of neural activity was observed in those who relied on artificial intelligence from the beginning. Only 78% of participants in this group were later able to recall what they had written in their essays.
EEG data revealed that active use of artificial intelligence was associated with:
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Reduced activity in brain regions responsible for sustained attention and independent information processing
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Increased activity in regions related to monitoring and evaluating ready-made responses
The authors emphasize that this does not indicate a decline in intelligence. The brain remains active, but the distribution of mental effort changes: fewer resources are devoted to generating ideas, and more to checking and evaluating them.
Cognitive Offloading: Not a Loss, but a Shift in Direction
Psychology describes this process as cognitive offloading—the transfer of certain mental operations to external tools. Similar effects have previously been observed with navigation systems or constant reliance on digital prompts. Artificial intelligence intensifies this effect because it performs not only supportive but also analytical functions.
This does not mean that thinking disappears. Rather, thinking changes form: individuals engage less in prolonged analytical construction and more in evaluation and decision-making stages.
When Are the Risks Higher?
Researchers highlight several groups that may be particularly vulnerable:
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Children and adolescents whose cognitive abilities are still developing
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Students and individuals in learning contexts
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Professionals whose work relies heavily on analysis and complex thinking
The consistent replacement of independent analysis with ready-made answers may reduce the use—and development—of deep concentration skills.
Artificial Intelligence: A Helper, Not a Substitute
At the same time, research shows that when used consciously, artificial intelligence can:
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Help structure thoughts
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Accelerate work with information
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Improve the ability to formulate meaningful questions
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Enhance understanding of complex topics
The key factor is maintaining an active cognitive position.
Final Thoughts
Artificial intelligence does not destroy thinking and does not replace human intelligence. It restructures cognitive processes, shifting attention from independent idea generation toward evaluation and refinement.
The optimal balance lies in using artificial intelligence not as a substitute for our cognitive effort, but as a tool that supports it. In a world where ready-made answers are available within seconds, this approach remains the only way to preserve depth of thought.