
29/07/2025
Can excessive use of ChatGPT make your brain lazy?
Researchers at MIT Media Lab conducted a study with just 54 participants, split into 3 groups:
Used ChatGPT
Used Google Search
Used no tools (Brain-only)
Each wrote SAT-style essays while their brain activity was tracked using EEG.
Findings:
ChatGPT users had the lowest brain engagement
Over time, they relied more on copy-paste
Struggled to remember or feel connected to their own work
The brain-only group showed the strongest thinking, memory, and creativity
Main concern: Relying on AI tools might harm learning, especially for young or developing minds.
Shortcoming:
This was a small-scale study (only 54 people) and hasn’t been peer-reviewed yet. But it raises important questions about how we use AI in education.