Key Takeaways
- Whether AI makes us dumber or smarter is decided by how we use it – not by the technology.
- A 2025 MIT study shows: those who outsource thinking completely are measurably less mentally engaged.
- Used as a sparring partner, AI sharpens thinking – used as an autopilot, it dulls it.
- For companies this is a culture question: do you demand output or judgment?
“Are we getting dumber with AI?” – hardly any audience question comes up more often in my keynotes. My answer: the question is justified but wrongly framed. The calculator weakened mental arithmetic and accelerated mathematics. What matters is what we delegate – and what we train.
What Does the Research Say?
In 2025, the MIT Media Lab measured in the study “Your Brain on ChatGPT” what happens when people have texts written entirely by AI: lower brain engagement, poorer recall of their own text, less identification with the result. The finding is no surprise – unused muscles grow weak. But it is not a verdict on AI; it is a verdict on one particular way of using it.
How Do You Use AI So That It Makes You Smarter?
- Think first, then challenge the AI: “What am I missing? Argue against me.”
- Use AI as a critic, not just a producer – request counter-positions instead of confirmation.
- Always verify and refine results: the last thinking step stays with the human.
- Deliberately train your thinking muscles: keep practicing core competencies, delegate routine.
What Does This Mean for Your Company Culture?
Teams adopt the usage culture of their leadership. Where only output counts, AI becomes a shortcut machine – including the risks of unchecked results. Where judgment remains in demand, it becomes a training partner. This is exactly the fork in the road I make tangible in keynotes: with exercises showing how the same AI becomes a thinking amplifier or a thinking substitute.
Planning an event? As a keynote speaker for artificial intelligence, digitalization and Microsoft 365, I bring technology topics to the stage in a way that sticks – hands-on, entertaining and immediately actionable. Here you will find an overview of my keynotes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Should career starters avoid AI at first?
No – but they should build fundamentals in parallel. Those who never learned to structure a text themselves cannot judge AI drafts. Learning and delegating belong together.
Is this topic suitable for an evening event?
Excellently – it combines science, practice and a pinch of provocation. Ideal for formats meant to spark reflection and discussion, from fireside chats to association evenings.
Is there a simple rule for healthy AI use?
My rule of thumb: AI may be the second opinion, never the only one. Those who start every task with an own thought and end it with an own judgment stay mentally fit – and get faster.
