"AI 's promise was it would liberate us from busywork. Instead, it's becoming a new dependency. Maybe it's an email you didn't feel like writing. A brainstorm you didn't feel inspired to lead. Code that would take you hours to program. A bio or outline that felt just a bit too hard to begin. You used to do these things on your own. But now AI makes it so easy to skip the effort that you barely notice you're outsourcing your thinking."
"So I wasn't surprised to see that some researchers have begun labeling compulsive overuse of generative AI as a potential behavioral addiction. They found that "over time, excessive reliance on AI can impair cognitive flexibility, diminish problem-solving abilities and erode creative independence." In other words, AI can enhance human capability, but if used unchecked, it can also start to replace it."
"In 2024, over $100 billion was invested into generative AI startups globally. But not enough money is being spent to understand or mitigate AI's psychological impact. At PsyMed Ventures, we want to change this by investing in a new generation of companies focused on digital wellness, cognitive resilience, and mental health in the AI era. However, while investing in research is a long-term fix, in the short term leaders can combat AI addiction by helping their teams implement AI boundaries."
AI promised to free people from busywork but is becoming a dependency for tasks like emails, brainstorming, coding, bios, and outlines. This ease of use encourages skipping effort and outsourcing thinking, which weakens independent problem-solving. Some researchers label compulsive generative-AI overuse as a potential behavioral addiction and warn it can impair cognitive flexibility, diminish problem-solving abilities, and erode creative independence. Massive investment has flowed into generative AI, yet funding to study and mitigate psychological harms remains limited. PsyMed Ventures aims to back companies focused on digital wellness and cognitive resilience, and leaders can set AI boundaries to reduce short-term risk.
Read at Fast Company
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]