Study warns AI overuse is killing critical thinking: tech teams now just approving their own obsolescence one prompt at a time

A recent study by researcher Michael Gerlich from SBS Swiss Business School found a strong correlation between increased AI usage and decreased critical thinking skills. The study, published in January 2025, analyzed 666 participants in the UK and revealed that frequent AI users exhibited diminished critical thinking abilities. Younger participants, aged 17-25, showed the highest dependence on AI tools and the lowest critical thinking scores. The research suggests that excessive reliance on AI can lead to cognitive offloading, where individuals delegate mental tasks to AI, resulting in a decline in critical thinking skills. This phenomenon is not limited to AI, as seen in the impact of GPS on spatial memory. The study's findings have significant implications for the future of work, education, and human agency, highlighting the need for individuals to maintain cognitive independence and critical thinking skills in an increasingly AI-driven world. Gerlich's research was published in the journal Societies.