Funny but serious, Chieng issues an AI warning to grads - Harvard Gazette

Ronny Chieng spoke at Class Day to the Harvard Class of 2026 with skepticism about artificial intelligence. He urged students to use AI for research in medicine and physics, but not as a replacement for creativity and critical thinking. He cited a 2025 MIT study, “Your Brain on ChatGPT,” describing how excessive reliance on language learning models can lead to cognitive debt. He framed his message as a mission to destroy AI, while clarifying that breakthrough use is not the problem. He also mocked using AI for reading and answering emails, arguing that human capability matters. He emphasized that creating is a deeply human activity.

"“I'm here to tell you the mission of your generation is to destroy AI,” said Chieng. “I know someone sitting out here right now who is saying, 'What about the use of AI to pioneer breakthroughs in medicine and physics?'... If you're using it for that purpose, you're not the problem. I'm talking about the accumulation of cognitive debt due to excessive use of large language models ... This is why you should be scared of AI.”"

"Using colorful language, Chieng leaned into his AI skepticism in remarks at Tercentenary Theatre, citing a 2025 MIT study titled “Your Brain on ChatGPT,” which found that overreliance on language learning models can lead to cognitive debt. He told the Class of 2026 to apply AI to research in medicine and physics, but never as a replacement for creativity and critical thinking."

"Addressing students, Chieng scoffed at using AI for reading and answering emails. “You know who else can do that? Me,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience. “If you can't do that, how useless are you?” He connected the point to the value of human skill and judgment rather than outsourcing routine tasks to language models."

"Chieng, who grew up in Singapore and lived part of his childhood in Manchester, New Hampshire, reminded students that creativity is a deeply human endeavor. “Creating is the fun part,” he said. “Why would I w”"

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