Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have become increasingly integrated into everyday life in recent years. From AI-powered personal assistants on smartphones to recommendation systems on social media and online shopping platforms, these tools influence how we think, remember, and make choices. As AI advances rapidly, researchers in cognitive psychology are paying closer attention to how these systems affect human cognition and decision-making. Three areas of particular interest are cognitive offloading, the interplay between AI systems and cognitive biases, and the potential for AI-driven cognitive training interventions.
Cognitive Offloading in the Age of AI
Cognitive offloading refers to the process of using external tools and resources—such as notebooks, smartphones, and now AI-driven systems—to store information or accomplish cognitive tasks that would otherwise be handled by the human brain. Historically, humans have relied on external aids (e.g., written records and calculators) to augment memory and decision-making. The rise of AI amplifies this process, potentially reducing the mental effort required for information retrieval and problem-solving.
For instance, AI-assisted search engines and virtual assistants like ChatGPT or voice-driven devices (e.g., Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant) allow users to query information instantly rather than relying on their own memory or analytic capabilities. While this can be highly convenient and free up cognitive resources for more complex tasks, it can also lead to diminished memory retention over time. Sparrow, Liu, and Wegner (2011) demonstrated that when information is readily accessible online, people are less likely to remember it as thoroughly. In the context of AI, this dynamic may intensify: if we know ChatGPT can provide immediate summaries, we may rely less on internalizing details. Over time, such reliance could reshape our mental habits, encouraging a “use it or lose it” approach to certain cognitive skills
