Why Your Brain Is Getting Lazy (And How to Fix It)

Does Does using AI make you using AI make you using AI make you dumber? Well, dumber? Well, dumber? Well, actually it can. actually it can. actually it can. It's not about whether It's not about whether It's not about whether you use AI, it's about you use AI, it's about you use AI, it's about how you how you how you do it. Let's take do it. Let's take do it. Let's take the case of the case of the case of Brown Brown Brown University as an example. University as an example. Brown Brown University economics professor Roberto University economics professor Roberto University economics professor Roberto Serrano has been teaching the Serrano has been teaching the Serrano has been teaching the same same same economics course for over three economics course for over three economics course for over three decades, and decades, and decades, and last December, last December, last December, there was a there was a there was a tragic shooting on campus that left tragic shooting on campus that left two students two students dead and two dead and two dead and two injured. One of injured. One of injured. One of them was a student them was a student them was a student who had just asked who had just asked who had just asked Serrano to be her Serrano to be her Serrano to be her academic advisor. academic advisor. academic advisor. So last spring, out So last spring, out So last spring, out of concern for the of concern for the of concern for the traumatized traumatized traumatized students, he students, he students, he allowed them to take allowed them to take allowed them to take the exam at home. the exam at home. the exam at home. The number of students The number of students The number of students in this in this in this economics course has increased from the economics course has increased from the economics course has increased from the usual 30 to 86. usual 30 to 86. usual 30 to 86. He said you He said you He said you can take the can take the can take the midterm exam midterm exam midterm exam at home. When the exams at home. When the exams at home. When the exams came back, the came back, the came back, the average score was 96%. average score was 96%. average score was 96%. Serrano says that Serrano says that Serrano says that historically, the average historically, the average historically, the average score on the midterm score on the midterm score on the midterm exam for this course has exam for this course has exam for this course has ranged from 65% to 80%. " ranged from 65% to 80%. " ranged from 65% to 80%. " This exam was This exam was This exam was more difficult than the ones I more difficult than the ones I more difficult than the ones I wrote before," wrote before," he said. So a he said. So a he said. So a take-home exam is an take-home exam is an take-home exam is an opportunity to opportunity to opportunity to challenge the class a little challenge the class a little challenge the class a little more, given the more, given the more, given the unlimited time.

unlimited time. unlimited time. It seemed It seemed It seemed suspicious to him. So suspicious to him. So suspicious to him. So Serrano and his Serrano and his Serrano and his assistants checked assistants checked assistants checked the exam via ChatGPT. The the exam via ChatGPT. The AI's answers on AI's answers on the exam mostly the exam mostly the exam mostly repeated what repeated what repeated what the students wrote. the students wrote. the students wrote. Technically correct, Technically correct, Technically correct, but very confusing. And but very confusing. And but very confusing. And he immediately realized he immediately realized he immediately realized that these exams were that these exams were that these exams were not written by his students. not written by his students. not written by his students. Therefore, he announced Therefore, he announced Therefore, he announced changes for final changes for final changes for final exams. In person, exams. In person, exams. In person, no laptops, no Wi-Fi no laptops, no Wi-Fi . You have to come and . You have to come and . You have to come and do it the old-fashioned way do it the old-fashioned way . 18 students immediately . 18 students immediately . 18 students immediately dropped out of the course. dropped out of the course. dropped out of the course. Nine more remained, Nine more remained, Nine more remained, but missed the but missed the but missed the final exam. And final exam. And final exam. And then there were the students then there were the students then there were the students who came. Three who came. Three who came. Three got zero. got zero. got zero. The average score of the class, The average score of the class, The average score of the class, which, remember, which, remember, was 96% on the midterm exam, was 48.6%. was 96% on the midterm exam, was 48.6%. The lowest result The lowest result The lowest result in the entire history of the course. in the entire history of the course. in the entire history of the course. Even after Even after Even after Serrano adjusted Serrano adjusted Serrano adjusted the grades so that most the grades so that most the grades so that most students passed, 19 students passed, 19 students passed, 19 students still students still students still failed. So, in an failed. So, in an failed. So, in an era where AI junk is era where AI junk is era where AI junk is everywhere, the “ everywhere, the “ everywhere, the “ stupidity tax” is not just stupidity tax” is not just stupidity tax” is not just what AI does to what AI does to what AI does to your work, but also what it your work, but also what it your work, but also what it does to your does to your does to your mind when you’re mind when you’re mind when you’re not working yourself. And that's exactly what not working yourself. And that's exactly what not working yourself. And that's exactly what I want to I want to I want to talk about. So, how do talk about. So, how do talk about. So, how do you use AI?

you use AI? you use AI? I think many I think many I think many church leaders are church leaders are church leaders are using it using it using it incorrectly. And that's what incorrectly. And that's what incorrectly. And that's what I mean. I mean. I mean. Using AI to Using AI to Using AI to create for create for create for you is like you is like you is like going to the going to the going to the gym where you gym where you gym where you pay someone pay someone pay someone else to else to else to work out for you. work out for you. They burn They burn calories, you haven't calories, you haven't calories, you haven't strained a single strained a single strained a single muscle, and you come out muscle, and you come out muscle, and you come out of there weaker than of there weaker than of there weaker than when you went in. Look, when you went in. Look, when you went in. Look, you have to work you have to work you have to work hard to get hard to get hard to get stronger, right? stronger, right? stronger, right? Brain degradation is a Brain degradation is a Brain degradation is a reality, and it reality, and it reality, and it can be measured. can be measured. can be measured. In fact, even before the In fact, even before the In fact, even before the AI ​​era, we were beginning to see the AI ​​era, we were beginning to see the AI ​​era, we were beginning to see the cumulative impact of two cumulative impact of two cumulative impact of two decades of social media, decades of social media, decades of social media, and now it is and now it is and now it is being amplified by artificial being amplified by artificial being amplified by artificial intelligence. intelligence. American children and American children and teenagers are performing a teenagers are performing a teenagers are performing a full grade lower in full grade lower in full grade lower in reading and reading and reading and math than they math than they math than they were in 2015. And this was before were in 2015. And this was before were in 2015. And this was before AI really AI really became widespread. You can't use use social media to social media to social media to write an exam. You can't write an exam. You can't use use social media to social media to social media to summarize complex summarize complex summarize complex research. So research. So research. So now we have now we have now we have AI, and I don't think AI, and I don't think AI, and I don't think things are going to get any better things are going to get any better . Your email, a . Your email, a . Your email, a leaking faucet, leaking faucet, leaking faucet, the next sermon the next sermon the next sermon or lecture—AI can or lecture—AI can or lecture—AI can advise you on anything advise you on anything , and you don't have to , and you don't have to , and you don't have to think, and that's where we think, and that's where we think, and that's where we get into trouble.

get into trouble. If you leave If you leave all the hard work to AI, as all the hard work to AI, as Brown Brown University students have discovered, you University students have discovered, you University students have discovered, you can end up with can end up with can end up with nothing, having learned nothing at all nothing, having learned nothing at all nothing, having learned nothing at all . As soon as . As soon as . As soon as you start you start you start using AI using AI using AI to outsource to outsource to outsource your thinking and your thinking and your thinking and intellectual intellectual intellectual work, you start to work, you start to work, you start to cognitively cognitively cognitively degrade. degrade. degrade. MIT researchers found MIT researchers found that when people that when people that when people use ChatGPT use ChatGPT use ChatGPT to write, to write, to write, their their their brain connectivity is reduced by brain connectivity is reduced by brain connectivity is reduced by almost half. Worse still almost half. Worse still almost half. Worse still , 83% of people who , 83% of people who , 83% of people who used AI used AI used AI to write essays to write essays to write essays couldn't remember anything they couldn't remember anything they couldn't remember anything they supposedly supposedly supposedly wrote, and none of wrote, and none of wrote, and none of them could accurately them could accurately them could accurately cite their cite their cite their own work. Here's what I own work. Here's what I own work. Here's what I think it think it think it means. In an era when means. In an era when means. In an era when human human human thinking is set to thinking is set to thinking is set to decline more than it has in decline more than it has in decline more than it has in recent centuries, recent centuries, recent centuries, and perhaps all of and perhaps all of and perhaps all of time, people who time, people who time, people who can still think, can still think, can still think, analyze, read, and analyze, read, and analyze, read, and build arguments from build arguments from build arguments from basic principles basic principles basic principles will have a huge will have a huge will have a huge advantage. No, you advantage. No, you advantage. No, you may never may never may never change the mind of an AI, but we change the mind of an AI, but we change the mind of an AI, but we will be able to will be able to will be able to interpret what it interpret what it interpret what it says much says much says much better than those whose better than those whose better than those whose thinking has become thinking has become thinking has become sluggish. We will be the sluggish. We will be the sluggish. We will be the ones who can guide ones who can guide ones who can guide other people through the other people through the other people through the complexity and complexity and complexity and understand what it all understand what it all understand what it all means. And, means. And, means. And, honestly, life is honestly, life is honestly, life is better when you better when you better when you use your use your use your God-given mind to its full God-given mind to its full God-given mind to its full potential. Remember, Jesus potential. Remember, Jesus potential. Remember, Jesus said, "Love the Lord said, "Love the Lord said, "Love the Lord your God with all your your God with all your your God with all your heart, with all your heart, with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength." So don't turn strength." So don't turn strength." So don't turn it off. Didn't put it in it off. Didn't put it in it off. Didn't put it in neutral.

neutral. neutral. So the question arises So the question arises : how do we use : how do we use : how do we use artificial intelligence in a way that makes artificial intelligence in a way that makes artificial intelligence in a way that makes us us us smarter, not smarter, not smarter, not dumber? Ignoring dumber? Ignoring dumber? Ignoring it probably won't work it probably won't work . Well, first, . Well, first, . Well, first, use AI to use AI to use AI to think more, not think more, not think more, not less. Remember, the " less. Remember, the " stupidity tax" stupidity tax" is not something AI does is not something AI does is not something AI does to your work. This is what it to your work. This is what it to your work. This is what it does to does to does to your mind when your mind when your mind when you don't do the work you don't do the work you don't do the work yourself. So, don't yourself. So, don't yourself. So, don't let AI think let AI think let AI think and write for you. and write for you. and write for you. Use it Use it Use it to think better and, to think better and, to think better and, ultimately, write better ultimately, write better . You are doing the hardest . You are doing the hardest . You are doing the hardest work. You do that work. You do that work. You do that first first first draft. You are doing the draft. You are doing the draft. You are doing the most difficult most difficult most difficult intellectual intellectual intellectual work. AI only work. AI only work. AI only helps. It is this helps. It is this helps. It is this approach that allows you approach that allows you approach that allows you to develop your own to develop your own to develop your own thinking, and not simply thinking, and not simply thinking, and not simply borrow it from borrow it from borrow it from machines. David Brooks machines. David Brooks machines. David Brooks aptly noted this in the aptly noted this in the aptly noted this in the Atlantic. He said: " Atlantic. He said: " When intelligence is When intelligence is When intelligence is available in abundance, available in abundance, available in abundance, will becomes valuable." will becomes valuable." will becomes valuable." By will, he means By will, he means By will, he means your desire, your desire, your desire, such as the ability such as the ability such as the ability to make decisions. to make decisions. to make decisions. So, let me, So, let me, So, let me, let me let me let me start at the beginning. When start at the beginning. When start at the beginning. When intelligence is available in intelligence is available in intelligence is available in abundance, will becomes abundance, will becomes abundance, will becomes valuable. The people who valuable. The people who valuable. The people who will change the world are not will change the world are not will change the world are not those who seek those who seek those who seek relaxation and passively relaxation and passively relaxation and passively use AI to use AI to use AI to work less. These are work less. These are work less. These are those who strive for those who strive for those who strive for improvement and improvement and improvement and actively compete with actively compete with actively compete with AI to develop AI to develop AI to develop their own mental their own mental their own mental abilities and abilities and abilities and achieve more.

achieve more. achieve more. End of quote. David End of quote. David End of quote. David Brooks, I agree with you Brooks, I agree with you Brooks, I agree with you . One of the things . One of the things . One of the things you will have to you will have to fight for the most in the fight for the most in the coming years is coming years is coming years is your ability to your ability to your ability to think independently, think independently, think independently, creatively, and maintain creatively, and maintain creatively, and maintain subjectivity to subjectivity to subjectivity to counter the counter the counter the cognitive cognitive cognitive decline that is already decline that is already decline that is already occurring in our occurring in our occurring in our culture. The second thing culture. The second thing culture. The second thing you can do is you can do is read as if the AI read as if the AI read as if the AI can't summarize can't summarize can't summarize it for you. Teachers it for you. Teachers it for you. Teachers are already reporting that they are already reporting that they are already reporting that they can no longer can no longer can no longer show full-length films in show full-length films in show full-length films in elementary or elementary or elementary or high school high school . Why? Lack of . Why? Lack of concentration. I've concentration. I've concentration. I've talked to talked to talked to parents who say the same thing parents who say the same thing parents who say the same thing . Children say: . Children say: . Children say: “Movies are too boring. “Movies are too boring. “Movies are too boring. They are too long. I They are too long. I They are too long. I grew up on YouTube Shorts. I grew up on YouTube Shorts. I grew up on YouTube Shorts. I grew up on Reels. I can't grew up on Reels. I can't grew up on Reels. I can't concentrate for that concentrate for that concentrate for that long." A generation long." A generation long." A generation raised on 8- raised on 8- second videos second videos second videos can barely can barely can barely focus on focus on focus on anything for more than a anything for more than a anything for more than a few minutes. This is few minutes. This is few minutes. This is a problem, because how are a problem, because how are a problem, because how are you going to you going to you going to solve real solve real solve real problems, to appreciate problems, to appreciate problems, to appreciate great literature, great literature, great literature, art, to art, to art, to access the access the access the best that best that human wisdom has to offer, human wisdom has to offer, if you can't if you can't if you can't sustain your attention sustain your attention sustain your attention long enough to long enough to long enough to comprehend it. I spent comprehend it. I spent comprehend it. I spent 12 years in 12 years in 12 years in university, went into university, went into university, went into ministry in the middle of ministry in the middle of law law school, so I added school, so I added school, so I added more time to my life. Of course, more time to my life. Of course, more time to my life. Of course, I studied I studied I studied law, which is law, which is law, which is essentially a mountain of court essentially a mountain of court essentially a mountain of court cases and textbooks.

cases and textbooks. cases and textbooks. However, a few years However, a few years However, a few years ago I realized that ago I realized that ago I realized that my own my own my own attention span— attention span— even before AI—had become even before AI—had become so scattered so scattered that I had to that I had to that I had to relearn how to read. And relearn how to read. And relearn how to read. And now I intentionally now I intentionally now I intentionally read thoughtfully. read thoughtfully. read thoughtfully. I remember in my first year of I remember in my first year of I remember in my first year of law school there was a course law school there was a course law school there was a course where we had to where we had to where we had to read 800 pages on read 800 pages on read 800 pages on just one just one just one discipline out of five. It discipline out of five. It discipline out of five. It was madness. And here was madness. And here was madness. And here I am, after so many I am, after so many I am, after so many years, having lost the years, having lost the years, having lost the ability to read. ability to read. ability to read. Thanks to social media, I Thanks to social media, I Thanks to social media, I retrained myself. But retrained myself. But retrained myself. But you see, quality you see, quality you see, quality reading, if you reading, if you reading, if you really immerse yourself in really immerse yourself in really immerse yourself in it, will not only it, will not only it, will not only expose you to great expose you to great expose you to great ideas, stories, and the ideas, stories, and the ideas, stories, and the best of best of best of human wisdom in a human wisdom in a human wisdom in a way that will way that will way that will be remembered for a be remembered for a be remembered for a long time. It will give long time. It will give long time. It will give you a better ability you a better ability you a better ability to create content from to create content from to create content from scratch. Sure, let AI scratch. Sure, let AI scratch. Sure, let AI do your do your do your resume or resume or resume or research for you sometimes. Just research for you sometimes. Just research for you sometimes. Just don't lose don't lose don't lose the ability to do this on the ability to do this on the ability to do this on your own, because the your own, because the your own, because the day you day you day you lose it, resumes lose it, resumes lose it, resumes will cease to have will cease to have will cease to have any meaning, and you any meaning, and you any meaning, and you won't even know won't even know won't even know how to use them. how to use them. how to use them. Third: invest in Third: invest in Third: invest in real relationships and real relationships and real relationships and real life real life real life experiences. Yes, AI is always experiences. Yes, AI is always experiences. Yes, AI is always available, but it available, but it available, but it rarely argues with rarely argues with rarely argues with you and can be entertaining you and can be entertaining . People, on the other hand . People, on the other hand , I know, can be , I know, can be , I know, can be clumsy, right?

clumsy, right? clumsy, right? We are clumsy. They We are clumsy. They We are clumsy. They disappoint you. disappoint you. disappoint you. Life doesn't Life doesn't Life doesn't fit fit fit your schedule, and that your schedule, and that your schedule, and that creates a bunch of problems creates a bunch of problems creates a bunch of problems that, like people themselves, are that, like people themselves, are that, like people themselves, are very difficult to solve. very difficult to solve. very difficult to solve. But the two But the two But the two most important most important most important maturity skills maturity skills maturity skills for a great life have for a great life have for a great life have always been always been always been resilience and the ability resilience and the ability resilience and the ability to fix what's to fix what's to fix what's broken. Resilience broken. Resilience is simply your is simply your is simply your willingness to get up willingness to get up willingness to get up one more time than one more time than one more time than you've been knocked down. And the you've been knocked down. And the you've been knocked down. And the virtual world can't virtual world can't virtual world can't teach you teach you teach you this the way this the way this the way real life does. real life does. real life does. AI, at least as we AI, at least as we AI, at least as we know it now, does not know it now, does not know it now, does not resist like life. resist like life. resist like life. It doesn't create friction, It doesn't create friction, It doesn't create friction, and that's what makes it and that's what makes it and that's what makes it so exciting, is so exciting, is so exciting, is n't it? He n't it? He n't it? He eliminates it. But not all eliminates it. But not all eliminates it. But not all friction in life is friction in life is friction in life is bad. Overcoming bad. Overcoming bad. Overcoming friction is, in fact, the friction is, in fact, the friction is, in fact, the key to success. key to success. key to success. Similarly, we are Similarly, we are Similarly, we are also seeing a also seeing a also seeing a decline in decline in decline in people's ability to repair what people's ability to repair what people's ability to repair what has been broken in has been broken in has been broken in relationships. We are already relationships. We are already relationships. We are already seeing young seeing young seeing young people entering people entering people entering long-term long-term long-term relationships at historically relationships at historically relationships at historically low rates low rates , with nearly a third of , with nearly a third of , with nearly a third of teens saying that teens saying that teens saying that communicating with an AI communicating with an AI communicating with an AI satisfies them just as much as satisfies them just as much as communicating with a communicating with a real person. This is real person. This is real person. This is according to a recent according to a recent according to a recent survey by Common Sense Media survey by Common Sense Media . This must be . This must be . This must be extremely extremely extremely worrying. I think it would be a worrying. I think it would be a worrying. I think it would be a serious serious serious mistake to choose to talk mistake to choose to talk mistake to choose to talk to a to a to a machine instead of a machine instead of a machine instead of a living person.

living person. Think about it this way: Think about it this way: breaking up and rebuilding breaking up and rebuilding is the essence of human is the essence of human is the essence of human relationships. This is what relationships. This is what relationships. This is what happens in happens in happens in every marriage, every every marriage, every every marriage, every friendship, every friendship, every friendship, every team, and your team, and your team, and your job requires it too job requires it too job requires it too . What . What . What happens when happens when happens when people interact? people interact? people interact? Well, breakups happen, and Well, breakups happen, and Well, breakups happen, and we hope we hope we hope we can fix them. we can fix them. we can fix them. This is also the entire This is also the entire This is also the entire story of the Bible. Something story of the Bible. Something story of the Bible. Something breaks in breaks in breaks in the relationship, and you the relationship, and you the relationship, and you fix it. So, fix it. So, fix it. So, use AI. Don't use AI. Don't use AI. Don't let this let this let this quietly erode three of the quietly erode three of the quietly erode three of the most important skills most important skills : your ability to : your ability to : your ability to think, your ability to think, your ability to think, your ability to read deeply, and read deeply, and read deeply, and your ability your ability your ability to maintain to maintain to maintain real relationships with real relationships with real relationships with real people who real people who real people who constantly need to be constantly need to be constantly need to be refreshed. You already refreshed. You already refreshed. You already know this meme, know this meme, know this meme, right? ChatGPT spends days telling the stupidest right? ChatGPT spends days telling the stupidest right? ChatGPT spends days telling the stupidest people you know that people you know that they are they are absolutely right. This absolutely right. This absolutely right. This should make you should make you should make you suspicious the next suspicious the next suspicious the next time an time an time an AI says the AI says the AI says the same thing to you or me. same thing to you or me. same thing to you or me. Artificial Artificial Artificial intelligence platforms are designed intelligence platforms are designed intelligence platforms are designed to please you. to please you. to please you. The better they The better they The better they make you make you make you feel, the longer feel, the longer feel, the longer you stay. And the you stay. And the you stay. And the longer you stay, longer you stay, longer you stay, the higher the valuation of the higher the valuation of AI developers becomes. Anthropic and OpenAI AI developers becomes. Anthropic and OpenAI are now valued at between a are now valued at between a are now valued at between a trillion and two trillion and two trillion and two trillion dollars, trillion dollars, trillion dollars, largely largely largely due to how due to how due to how long people long people long people stay stay stay engaged and engaged and engaged and use the use the use the platform. But platform. But platform. But something something something more significant than the more significant than the more significant than the capitalization of any capitalization of any one company is at stake. This is the one company is at stake. This is the one company is at stake. This is the question of whether question of whether question of whether AI changes you, whether AI changes you, whether AI changes you, whether it changes the way we it changes the way we it changes the way we think, how we think, how we think, how we relate to each relate to each relate to each other as people, and whether other as people, and whether other as people, and whether we can even we can even we can even understand each other. The

understand each other. The understand each other. The “stupidity tax” is “stupidity tax” is not something AI not something AI not something AI does to your does to your does to your work. This is what it work. This is what it work. This is what it does to your does to your does to your mind when you are mind when you are mind when you are not busy with this work. And not busy with this work. And not busy with this work. And if you want to if you want to if you want to dive deeper into the topic of AI, dive deeper into the topic of AI, dive deeper into the topic of AI, its impact, and its impact, and its impact, and what it will do to what it will do to what it will do to your church, I would be your church, I would be your church, I would be happy if you happy if you happy if you purchased my book, “ purchased my book, “ AI and the Future Church AI and the Future Church .” In it, you will find .” In it, you will find .” In it, you will find three shifts that three shifts that three shifts that every every every leader must make to not just leader must make to not just leader must make to not just survive in this era, but to survive in this era, but to survive in this era, but to lead successfully in lead successfully in lead successfully in it. In the meantime, it. In the meantime, it. In the meantime, I hope you'll I hope you'll I hope you'll think about think about think about how you're using how you're using how you're using AI to get AI to get AI to get sharper, not sharper, not sharper, not dumber. Let us know dumber. Let us know dumber. Let us know in the comments how you in the comments how you in the comments how you protect your mind protect your mind protect your mind and use AI in and use AI in and use AI in your daily your daily your daily work.