Is ChatGPT your go-to search tool? Do you rely on Google Maps for your daily commute? A new study says using AI is making us dumb. But is that really the case? And how can you stay sharp?
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00:00Do you use AI at work?
00:01If yes, you're not alone.
00:03In 2024, about three in four people use AI in the workplace.
00:07Asking ChatGPT for help or quick info
00:10makes our lives easier,
00:12but could it also make us dumber?
00:13That's what a new Microsoft study suggests.
00:16Others argue, if we use AI tools the right way,
00:20they can make us smarter.
00:21Let's have a closer look and see how you can stay smart.
00:25Writing an email to your boss,
00:27summarizing a complicated text,
00:29AI can do all that for you.
00:32Microsoft researchers asked 319 so-called knowledge workers
00:36how they use generative AI at work.
00:38Most use it at least once a week,
00:40but what are the most common uses?
00:42Creation.
00:43Study participants said they use AI to generate reports,
00:47presentations, and even software code.
00:49Information.
00:50At work, AI is used like a search engine
00:53to check facts but also summarize content.
00:56Funnily enough, people said they even use AI
00:59to fact-check AI-generated content.
01:02Advice.
01:03Workers also turn to AI for advice
01:06on project strategies, workflow tips,
01:08and other recommendations.
01:10So what's wrong with using AI?
01:13The study says AI use can weaken critical thinking.
01:17Especially when it's a routine task,
01:19users rely on AI,
01:20and that can make us dependent
01:22and hurt our problem-solving skills.
01:24But not everyone trusts AI blindly.
01:2736% of the study's participants
01:30said they use critical thinking to verify AI's answers.
01:34Interesting.
01:34People with high self-confidence
01:36questioned AI results the most,
01:39meaning the more people trust themselves,
01:42the more they think critically.
01:43Bottom line, the study says AI can make us more efficient,
01:47but over-reliance could be risky.
01:50So how can we use AI to make us work smarter?
01:53When Google first came out,
01:55it made finding information a breeze,
01:57but it didn't stop people from using their brains.
01:59So why can't it be the same with AI?
02:02Used wisely, it frees up time and helps us work smarter.
02:05AI can sift through massive amounts of data,
02:08a task that would take humans much longer.
02:11That saved time can be used for critical thinking,
02:14like analyzing information.
02:16AI can create a personalized learning plan,
02:19which can boost your learning
02:20by offering more diverse perspectives.
02:23And AI can be a source of inspiration.
02:25Instead of letting AI do your creative work,
02:28you can use it to brainstorm ideas.
02:31That way, it can spark creativity and improve your work.
02:34So is AI really making us dumber?
02:37It depends on how we use it.
02:39The Microsoft study revealed another key insight.
02:42People who understand AI's limitations
02:45were more likely to think critically and check results.
02:48Here's your AI checklist.
02:50Cross-check.
02:51Like with every piece of information you read,
02:53always verify with other independent sources,
02:56like media publications.
02:58And check the primary source.
03:00Question every answer.
03:02AI can hallucinate and make things up.
03:04An attorney in New York learned this the hard way
03:07when he used ChatGPT to research legal cases.
03:10Later, a call found out that the AI
03:12had made up cases, names, and citations.
03:15So question every fact that AI tells you.
03:19Beware of bias.
03:20Generative AI isn't neutral.
03:23It reflects the data it's trained on.
03:25That means search results are biased,
03:27including discrimination against minorities.
03:31Last but not least, use multiple tools.
03:33That will help you cross-check information
03:35and get a more balanced perspective.
03:38Remember, paid versions generally deliver better results
03:41than free AI tools.
03:43In the end, it's up to us.
03:45Will we let AI do all the thinking
03:48or make sure to use it as a tool and think for ourselves?
03:51Stay alert and critical.
03:53Bye-bye.