Let AI Enhance, Not Replace, Your Brain

Imagine one afternoon you are navigating the busy streets of Kumasi for the first time, Kejetia, Adum, Manhyia and your only guide is a GPS voice in your ear. Turn left. Turn right. You arrive at your destination. But the moment that voice goes silent, or your phone turns off you are completely lost. You saw the streets, but you never really looked at them. You moved through the city, but you never learned it.

Now imagine the same experience in Takoradi. In the rain following the voice down past the harbor, through Sekondi. You arrive. But ask you to repeat the journey alone the next morning and you cannot. The route lived in the phone, not in you.

That is exactly what is happening to us in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on a much grander scale.

Currently, we are faced with a dilemma on a much grander scale. As AI becomes deeply woven into our daily lives it poses a profound question “should AI shield us from the effort of thinking, or should it enhance our natural thinking process”? It is tempting and pleasing, when we let an algorithm handle our mental heavy lifting.

A research conducted by the neuroscientist and psychologist suggests that outsourcing our intellect risks softens the most powerful machine on the planet that is the human brain. To thrive, in this technological advance world we must treat and welcome AI not as replacement for our minds, but as a cognitive amplifier.

Risko and Gilbert (2016) defined cognitive offloading as “the use of physical action to alter the information processing requirements of a task so as to reduce cognitive demand”

The Pros and Cons of Cognitive Offloading.

When we rely on phones, computers, or other digital devices to helps us write, solve problems, or make decisions, we are shifting some of our mental work to technology. A process psychologists refer to as “cognitive offloading”. It saves time though but biologically the brain will use it and lose it later.

The human brain grows stronger through active thinking, problem-solving and learning. Scientist explain this through neuroplasticity, which is the brains ability to build and strengthen neural connections through experience. Relying heavily on AI may reduce mental effort needed for intense learning and memory development. Research suggest that, people who actively engage and depend on AI for complex tasks may retain fewer skills over time because their brains are less engaged in the learning process.

Just like muscles weaken when they are not exercised, critical thinking skills can depreciates or decline when technology does most of the thinking for us.

The Ultimate Choice.
In view of this, AI should not be viewed as an enemy but we should understand that the human brain remains extraordinary and capable of creativity, intuition, empathy and original thinking in ways AI cannot truly replicate. The same AI was designed by a collective effort group of scientists and researchers which are humans. Isn’t it fascinating? That should inform us that, AI can assist in task but ultimately technology should enhance human intelligence not weaken it. As saying goes “We are what we think” so, what are you thinking? Use your words and voice and enhance it with the aid of Artificial Intelligence.

About the author: Jochebed Thompson is a passionate writer and an MPHIL student at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

Email: jochebedthompson@gmail.com

   Comments0