"An AP Economics teacher assigned a three-page PDF on supply and demand. The next day, the class discussion was unsettling. Every student was making identical points, using the same examples, and sharing information in nearly identical language. The teacher couldn't prove it was ChatGPT, but the pattern was unmistakable. Students had uploaded the reading, requested summaries, and absorbed AI-generated talking points as their own thinking."
"Cognitive offloading has become irresistible to students, and the consequences extend far beyond academic dishonesty. The Research Behind the Pattern Gerlich's very recent 2025 study examining AI usage across age groups found a significant negative correlation between frequent AI tool reliance and critical thinking abilities. Younger participants showed the strongest dependence and lowest critical thinking scores. The relationship was also non-linear. Moderate AI use showed minimal cognitive impact, but excessive dependency produced measurable decline."
An AP Economics assignment produced identical student responses after AI summaries, indicating AI-generated talking points replaced individual analysis. Cognitive offloading has become common among students and reduces originality. A 2025 study comparing age groups found a significant negative correlation between frequent AI reliance and critical thinking, strongest among younger participants; moderate AI use showed minimal impact, while excessive dependency produced measurable decline. The phenomenon acts as a cognitive prosthesis that completes thinking rather than assisting it. Compliance-focused education rewards correct products over process, and competency-based learning that prioritizes mastery and productive struggle restores meaningful cognitive engagement.
Read at Psychology Today
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