![\"artificial](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/chat-IA-chatgpt-credit-focal5-CC-BY-NC-2.0-flickr-1024x683.jpg\")
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Artificial intelligence can make us smarter or more dependent, depending on how we use it, without compromising our cognitive abilities. Credit: Focal5<\/a>, CC BY-NC 2.0 \/ Flickr <\/p>\n Artificial intelligence has become an everyday tool for millions of people. What began as a technology<\/a> primarily used to solve specific tasks is now involved in everything from writing emails to studying, working, creating content, searching for information, and making personal decisions. This expansion has raised an increasingly relevant question: Is AI expanding our capabilities, or are we beginning to depend on it to think for us?<\/p>\n Artificial intelligence can make knowledge more accessible, speed up processes, and become a learning tool. However, when a person stops using it as a form of support and begins delegating decisions that they previously made on their own, cognitive dependence can emerge.<\/p>\n The shift is particularly noticeable among younger generations, who have grown up surrounded by smartphones, social media<\/a>, and digital tools. For some young people, consulting AI before making a decision has already become part of their routine. From choosing what to study or how to respond to a message to seeking guidance about personal problems, technology can become a kind of first source of advice.<\/p>\n AI can make us smarter<\/p>\n One of the main arguments in favor of artificial intelligence is its ability to facilitate learning. A person can ask for explanations of a complex concept, request examples, compare different perspectives, or adapt an explanation to their level of knowledge.<\/p>\n In education, this possibility can be particularly useful. A student who does not understand a particular subject can use AI to receive an explanation different from the one initially provided by a teacher or textbook. It can also be used to practice languages, answer questions, and receive feedback.<\/p>\n Technology can also increase productivity. In the workplace, it can handle repetitive tasks, organize information, summarize documents, or help generate ideas. This allows people to dedicate more time to activities that require creativity, judgment, and decision-making.<\/p>\n Recent research has highlighted precisely this dual possibility. A study conducted by researchers at Peking University<\/a> and Arizona State University describes AI as a kind of \u201cintellectual partner\u201d capable of helping people acquire and apply knowledge. The challenge is to preserve cognitive agency as these tools become increasingly integrated into everyday activities.<\/p>\n The problem arises when convenience begins to replace effort. Learning is not simply about obtaining the correct answer. The process of searching for information, making mistakes, comparing alternatives, and developing a conclusion is also essential for building lasting knowledge.<\/p>\n The World Bank has warned about the difference between immediate performance and actual learning: a tool can improve the outcome of a task without guaranteeing that a person has developed the skills needed to complete it independently.<\/p>\n Younger generations are beginning to turn to AI for almost everything<\/p>\n Dependence becomes more apparent when artificial intelligence<\/a> stops being an occasional tool and becomes the first resource people turn to whenever they have a question.<\/p>\n For some young people, for example, consulting AI before making a decision has become a regular behavior. They may ask what career to pursue, how to respond to a message, whether they should accept a job opportunity, or even how to handle a conflict with another person.<\/p>\n In these situations, technology can serve as a source of guidance, but there is a risk that a person may ultimately give an AI-generated response an authority that it does not necessarily deserve.<\/p>\n The trend also extends to emotional matters. Some people use these tools as a kind of substitute for a psychologist: they describe how they feel, explain personal problems, and ask for recommendations about what to do. Although AI can provide general information or help organize thoughts, it does not replace professional evaluation or support from a qualified mental health professional.<\/p>\n Something similar occurs with physical health concerns. Before seeing a doctor, some people describe their symptoms to an artificial intelligence <\/a>system in an attempt to determine what might be happening. The tool can be useful for obtaining general information or preparing questions for a medical appointment, but interpreting symptoms without professional evaluation can lead to incorrect diagnoses, unnecessary concern, or a false sense of reassurance.<\/p>\n If someone realizes they can consult AI at any moment, they may gradually reduce the effort they put into researching, reflecting, or seeking guidance from specialized sources.<\/p>\n The risk of developing cognitive dependence<\/p>\n