In recent Breaking News, researchers have found that using ChatGPT to write essays may reduce brain activity compared to writing without any online help. The study, still under review, is raising important questions about how AI tools like chatbots affect our thinking and creativity. These Daily news highlights focus on how our brains respond differently when writing with or without artificial intelligence.
Study Explores AI’s Impact on the Brain
Computer scientist Nataliya Kosmyna and her team at the MIT Media Lab in Massachusetts studied how students’ brains work while writing essays. They wanted to know if using AI tools like ChatGPT makes the brain less active or less engaged.
The study involved 60 university students, aged 18 to 39. They were asked to write short essays in different ways:
- One group used ChatGPT to help them write.
- Another group used Google Search to find information (without AI help).
- A third group was not allowed to use the internet at all.
Each student wore a special cap that recorded brain wave activity. This technology, called EEG (electroencephalography), helped researchers see how active their brains were during the writing task.
ChatGPT vs No Tools
- More Brain Activity Without AI
Students who wrote without using any internet or AI tools had the strongest brain activity. Their brains showed more connections between different regions, especially from the back to the front, which is linked to decision-making and deep thinking. - ChatGPT Users Showed Less Brain Engagement
Students who used ChatGPT had the least brain connectivity. Their brains were not as engaged during the task. This suggests that AI may reduce deep mental effort, especially during early stages of thinking or writing. - Google Search Users Were in the Middle
The group that used Google had more brain activity than the ChatGPT group, but less than those who didn’t use any tools. They showed more action in parts of the brain linked to visual processing and memory.
Can AI Tools Affect Long-Term Thinking?
Some experts worry that using AI too often could weaken creativity and critical thinking. One part of the study showed that students who used ChatGPT first, and then had to write without it, still had lower brain activity than those who never used AI.
Adam Green, a cognitive neuroscientist from Georgetown University, said this might mean that depending on AI for ideas could make our brains less creative over time. But he also noted that only 18 students were included in this part of the study, so more research is needed.
Surprising Twist in the Results
Interestingly, when students switched from writing without AI to using ChatGPT, their brain activity actually increased. This surprised researchers because they expected the opposite. This suggests that when and how AI is used may affect learning outcomes.
Dr. Kosmyna said this shows the timing of using AI tools matters. Introducing AI too early may reduce engagement, while using it later might help students reflect more deeply.
ChatGPT as a Learning Tool?
Some educators see ChatGPT and similar tools as useful tutors, especially if used correctly. Guido Makransky, an education expert from the University of Copenhagen, said AI can be helpful when it guides students to ask questions, rather than giving them ready-made answers.
He said, “In the real world, students would and should interact with AI in a more thoughtful way.”
- A new study shows that writing essays with ChatGPT results in less brain activity than writing without online help.
- Students who wrote without tools had the most brain engagement.
- Experts say AI use in learning should be guided carefully to avoid weakening creative thinking.
- The timing and method of AI use may impact how much students learn and engage.
This research is still early and not yet peer-reviewed, but it adds to a growing discussion about how AI like ChatGPT may be changing the way we think. As technology continues to grow in schools and workplaces, these findings are a wake-up call about using AI in smart and mindful ways.
