Overreliance on Gen AI tools at work may impair critical thinking skills: Microsoft report

 In a short span, AI tools have become a mainstay in workspaces. Today, more than ever, knowledge workers around the world have embraced various AI tools to enhance productivity. But are we bordering on overreliance on AI? Is there a flipside?

A new report by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University researchers has shed some light on the concerning aspects of generative AI. The report highlights its impact on critical thinking skills among working professionals. According to the researchers, the increased reliance on AI tools may cause a decline in cognitive abilities and problem-solving abilities. 


A recent study conducted by researchers from Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University has revealed a concerning correlation between the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces and a decrease in critical thinking skills.

The research suggests that as employees become more dependent on generative AI for their tasks, they tend to utilize less critical thinking.

This shift could potentially lead to a decline in cognitive abilities that are essential to preserve.

The researchers pointed out an ironic aspect of automation in their study.

They said that by mechanizing routine tasks and leaving exception-handling to humans, people are robbed of regular opportunities to exercise their judgment and strengthen their cognitive muscles.

This can leave them unprepared and cognitively weakened when unexpected situations arise, highlighting a potential downside to increased reliance on AI in the workplace.

The study included 319 knowledge workers who submitted 936 examples of generative AI use in their jobs.

Participants were requested to fill out a survey regarding their generative AI usage, including the tools and prompts they employed, their confidence in the AI tools' ability to perform certain tasks, and their confidence in assessing the AI's output.

The tasks mentioned ranged from creating images for presentations to generating recommendations for new resources and strategies.

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