A leading education expert warns that generative AI tools could hinder cognitive development in young users by replacing the essential process of learning through effort. Rather than simply assisting with tasks, the technology may prevent students from building critical thinking and problem-solving skills that form the foundation of education. The concern arises as AI increasingly integrates into academic settings, raising questions about long-term educational outcomes. Critics argue that over-reliance on AI could lead to a generation with underdeveloped intellectual abilities.
‘“When young people systematically use AI to complete schoolwork or other thinking tasks, they are not offloading skills they already possess. They are shortcutting the process of developing those skills in the first place,” wrote Rebecca Winthrop, a senior fellow and director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution.’ https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2026-09-14/cognitive-stunting-potential-threat-generative-ai-poses-childrens-brains submitted by /u/Roger_Freedman_Phys [link] [comments]
