The Hidden Cost of AI That No One Talks About

Why your thinking skills are quietly eroding—and what to do about it

We’re living through the most rapid technological shift in human history. AI tools promise to make us more productive, more creative, more capable. But there’s a hidden cost that most of us aren’t paying attention to: the gradual erosion of our cognitive abilities.

The Seductive Trap of Outsourcing our Minds

I started using AI extensively during my sabbatical, playing around with every tool I could imagine—from writing songs to making videos, developing film scripts and building applications. The initial rush was intoxicating. Ideas flowed faster—so much faster. Projects materialized out of thin air. I felt like I had superpowers.

But something wasn’t quite right. It didn’t feel real. None of the outputs seemed to matter to me—and along the way I could sense a fogginess and lethargy in my brain that I haven’t known before. It was as if my ability to wrestle with complex problems, to think through things and plan for myself had b…