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Using AI tools like ChatGPT can reduce critical thinking skills

A survey of workers who used generative AI to complete tasks found that they used critical thinking less when they trusted the AI to do the task accurately

By Chris Stokel-Walker

13 February 2025

Are we losing critical thinking skills to artificial intelligence?

Naeblys/Alamy

Generative AI tools can limit users’ critical thinking when doing tasks. People using generative AI also think less critically when they trust the AI to do a task, such as developing an argument for a paper or presentation. The researchers behind the findings say the solution is to adapt the technology, rather than to limit its use.

Lev Tankelevitch at Microsoft Research and his colleagues asked 319 people to take part in a survey. The participants,…

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