MIT Professor Eric So examines cognitive atrophy and AI gravity in new book
MIT Professor Eric So published a new book titled The Collision: What AI Does to Us, examining the societal and cognitive effects of widespread artificial intelligence use. In an interview with MIT News, So contends that heavy reliance on AI can lead to cognitive atrophy, where individuals fail to develop and retain essential thinking skills, driven by what he terms AI gravity.
Key points
- MIT Professor Eric So published his new book, The Collision: What AI Does to Us, through W.W. Norton.
- So argues that heavy AI reliance can cause cognitive atrophy and diminish foundational mastery.
- An Anthropic study cited by So found that about half of queries from college students were low-effort requests for simple answers.
- So outlines four personal principles for navigating the AI era, including embracing productive struggle and using AI as a tutor rather than an answer machine.
What Happened
MIT Professor Eric So released a new book titled The Collision: What AI Does to Us, published by W.W. Norton. The book explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, human cognition, and society as AI tools become increasingly widespread across workplaces and educational institutions.
Drawing on recent academic and industry research, including an Anthropic study indicating that approximately half of queries from college students are low-effort requests for simple answers, So examines the long-term costs of relying on automated systems too broadly.
Context
So, the Sloan Distinguished Professor of Global Economics and Behavioral Science in the MIT Sloan School of Management, notes that his book was prompted by observing patterns in himself and others, such as instinctively reaching for generative tools like ChatGPT to draft routine communications.
He introduces the concept of AI gravity to describe the converging biological instincts to conserve mental energy and social pressures where peers use AI to work faster. Furthermore, he points out that many organizations and academic environments evaluate employees and students based on AI adoption, creating a self-fulfilling cycle of technological dependence.
What Comes Next
To counter the effects of cognitive atrophy, So outlines four practical rules for individuals navigating the AI age. These principles include embracing productive struggle, valuing who you are without AI, reinvesting cognitive surplus into meaningful activities or skill-building, and using AI as a cognitive trainer or tutor rather than a direct answer machine.
Why it matters
Eric So argues that widespread AI reliance causes cognitive atrophy and diminishes foundational mastery, highlighting systemic incentives that push individuals toward automation.
What we know
- Eric So published a new book titled The Collision: What AI Does to Us through W.W. Norton.
- An Anthropic study cited by So showed that about half of queries from college students were low-effort queries for simple answers.
- Eric So holds the position of Sloan Distinguished Professor of Global Economics and Behavioral Science in the MIT Sloan School of Management.
What remains unclear
- Heavy use of artificial intelligence leads to cognitive atrophy, in which people fail to develop and retain essential thinking skills.
How the story developed
MIT Professor Eric So publishes book on AI and cognition
MIT News published an interview with Professor Eric So regarding the release of his new book, The Collision: What AI Does to Us.
Original source
