Investigators at Microsoft Research believe that the use of these technologies could reduce our critical thinking, especially when we delegate certain tasks entirely to AI.
To come to this conclusion, the research team, led by Lev Tankelevitch, conducted an experiment with 319 participants recruited via the crowdsourcing platform Prolific.
These volunteers were asked to describe three situations in which they had used generative AI, such as ChatGPT, in their work. They were then asked to specify whether they had exercised critical thinking during these tasks and to explain how.
The results were striking: in nearly 40% of cases, the participants did not demonstrate any critical thinking. This observation has raised concerns about a perverse effect of generative AI.
By offering immediate access to knowledge and automating writing, these tools risk encouraging superficial learning rather than a real acquisition of knowledge.
“When studying human behaviour, seemingly opposing ideas can both be true,” Lev Tankelevitch told the New Scientist.
History shows that every technological innovation raises questions.
Calculators were once accused of harming math skills, just as geolocation applications like Google Maps were criticised for weakening people’s sense of direction.
Today, it is artificial intelligence that is fuelling these debates, particularly because of the technology’s influence on the way people analyse information.
But all is not lost. The Microsoft Research study revealed that the perception of AI played a key role in the intellectual engagement of users.
“Our survey-based study suggests that when people view a task as low-stakes, they may not review outputs as critically. However, when the stakes are higher, people naturally engage in more critical evaluation,” Lev Tankelevitch told the specialist magazine.
So, rather than limiting AI, researchers are advocating for its adaptation. Developing more transparent models, capable of explaining their reasoning, could encourage users to question the generated responses and maintain a critical perspective.
In a world saturated with information, where fake news circulates easily, distinguishing truth from falsehood is becoming a major challenge. Critical thinking is thus emerging as an essential skill, including in the world of work.
According to the latest “Future of Jobs” report from the World Economic Forum, it is even the most sought-after skill by employers, with seven in ten companies considering it indispensable in 2025.
The rise of generative artificial intelligence raises a paradox: by making knowledge more accessible, it risks, in the long term, altering how it is analysed.
Rather than relying on these tools blindly, it’s crucial to use them with discretion, favouring transparent tools and exercising critical thinking. Because while AI can assist people, it should never replace their ability to think.