Is AI Making Us Dumb?

DW (English)

Is ChatGPT your go-to search tool? Do you rely on Google Maps for your daily commute? A new study says using AI is making us dumb. But is that really the case? And how can you stay sharp?

Transcript

00:00Do you use AI at work?

00:01If yes, you're not alone.

00:03In 2024, about three in four people use AI in the workplace.

00:07Asking ChatGPT for help or quick info

00:10makes our lives easier,

00:12but could it also make us dumber?

00:13That's what a new Microsoft study suggests.

00:16Others argue, if we use AI tools the right way,

00:20they can make us smarter.

00:21Let's have a closer look and see how you can stay smart.

00:25Writing an email to your boss,

00:27summarizing a complicated text,

00:29AI can do all that for you.

00:32Microsoft researchers asked 319 so-called knowledge workers

00:36how they use generative AI at work.

00:38Most use it at least once a week,

00:40but what are the most common uses?

00:42Creation.

00:43Study participants said they use AI to generate reports,

00:47presentations, and even software code.

00:49Information.

00:50At work, AI is used like a search engine

00:53to check facts but also summarize content.

00:56Funnily enough, people said they even use AI

00:59to fact-check AI-generated content.

01:02Advice.

01:03Workers also turn to AI for advice

01:06on project strategies, workflow tips,

01:08and other recommendations.

01:10So what's wrong with using AI?

01:13The study says AI use can weaken critical thinking.

01:17Especially when it's a routine task,

01:19users rely on AI,

01:20and that can make us dependent

01:22and hurt our problem-solving skills.

01:24But not everyone trusts AI blindly.

01:2736% of the study's participants

01:30said they use critical thinking to verify AI's answers.

01:34Interesting.

01:34People with high self-confidence

01:36questioned AI results the most,

01:39meaning the more people trust themselves,

01:42the more they think critically.

01:43Bottom line, the study says AI can make us more efficient,

01:47but over-reliance could be risky.

01:50So how can we use AI to make us work smarter?

01:53When Google first came out,

01:55it made finding information a breeze,

01:57but it didn't stop people from using their brains.

01:59So why can't it be the same with AI?

02:02Used wisely, it frees up time and helps us work smarter.

02:05AI can sift through massive amounts of data,

02:08a task that would take humans much longer.

02:11That saved time can be used for critical thinking,

02:14like analyzing information.

02:16AI can create a personalized learning plan,

02:19which can boost your learning

02:20by offering more diverse perspectives.

02:23And AI can be a source of inspiration.

02:25Instead of letting AI do your creative work,

02:28you can use it to brainstorm ideas.

02:31That way, it can spark creativity and improve your work.

02:34So is AI really making us dumber?

02:37It depends on how we use it.

02:39The Microsoft study revealed another key insight.

02:42People who understand AI's limitations

02:45were more likely to think critically and check results.

02:48Here's your AI checklist.

02:50Cross-check.

02:51Like with every piece of information you read,

02:53always verify with other independent sources,

02:56like media publications.

02:58And check the primary source.

03:00Question every answer.

03:02AI can hallucinate and make things up.

03:04An attorney in New York learned this the hard way

03:07when he used ChatGPT to research legal cases.

03:10Later, a call found out that the AI

03:12had made up cases, names, and citations.

03:15So question every fact that AI tells you.

03:19Beware of bias.

03:20Generative AI isn't neutral.

03:23It reflects the data it's trained on.

03:25That means search results are biased,

03:27including discrimination against minorities.

03:31Last but not least, use multiple tools.

03:33That will help you cross-check information

03:35and get a more balanced perspective.

03:38Remember, paid versions generally deliver better results

03:41than free AI tools.

03:43In the end, it's up to us.

03:45Will we let AI do all the thinking

03:48or make sure to use it as a tool and think for ourselves?

03:51Stay alert and critical.

03:53Bye-bye.

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