AI Tools Like ChatGPT Boost Performance, Yet MIT Study Reveals Cognitive Costs in Essay Writing

A study by MIT researchers indicates that using large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for essay writing may negatively impact cognitive function. In a brain-mapping experiment with 54 participants, those utilizing AI tools exhibited reduced brain connectivity, lower memory retention, and decreased engagement compared to those relying solely on their cognitive abilities. The study, still in pre-print and not peer-reviewed, involved three groups: one using AI, another using search engines, and a third writing without external aids. Participants using only their brains produced diverse essays, while those using ChatGPT produced similar, less varied content. EEG tests revealed that while those using search engines were actively processing information, LLM users exhibited diminished brain activity, leading to difficulties in recalling and quoting their essays. The researchers argue that while AI can assist, it might also hinder deeper cognitive processing and learning, emphasizing the need for further exploration in this area.

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