Cognitive Offloading Research

Research conducted by Natilya Kosmyna at MIT's Media Lab in June 2025, still under review, found that students using AI might think less for themselves.

54 students in the study were split into 3 groups: ChatGPT, Google Search, and No tech and asked to write essays.

Their brain activity was measured while doing the writing using EEG headsets.

✖️ The students using ChatGPT showed the lowest brain activity. Over time they used it more and more, often just copying what it produced. Their essays were noticeably similar to each other and short on original thinking.

☑️ The students using No tech showed the highest brain activity. They were more creative, more curious, and seemed to get more satisfaction from the work, feeling a genuine sense of pride in what they had written.

➖ The students using Google Search also showed relatively high brain activity and enjoyed the task. This shows using AI to search is very different from having it write for you.