Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most used technologies today. People are so obsessed with AI that they have forgotten they can use their brains. AI, from the name itself, says ‘Artificial’, yet people still use it. When I first heard about AI, I was confused, wondering what it was all about. But I've learned that AI is like a magnet; once we start using it, it forces us to use it again and again. AI has now become everyone's priority. But do we really need AI in our lives?
AI Weakens Our Intelligence: Continuously depending on AI can deactivate our intelligence, as it reduces our critical thinking, or overall our cognitive abilities/functions. In the present era, everyone is addicted to AI. If any question is asked by a teacher, everyone starts browsing in AI, thinking that AI is the only solution that gives a perfect answer; indeed, we tend to forget that our mind also exists.
Have you ever wondered why people lack common sense? Don't you think that's because they don't use it? If we start using our minds instead of relying on AI for answers, it would lead to a deeper understanding and probably reduce dependency on AI.
There's a famous line that says, “Master AI before it masters you” It means that we should be the masters of ourselves instead of AI controlling us. We all have the mind-curiosity-the desire to find out and learn, so why don't we use our curious mind instead of using AI for help? If we use our minds in every situation, I'm sure we don't need AI in our lives. If we use our intelligence or mind, we tend to go beyond our thinking in questioning why. When? How? etc., but if we take the help of an AI, we just trust them without any questions. So..let's not weaken our intelligence due to AI but strengthen our intelligence with our curious mind.
Perplexity About Reality: There's a very high chance that the information we receive from AI can be false news or a false account, which could make us doubt what is true. Some people prefer talking or chatting with AI instead of humans that really exist, spending more time on phones rather than with families or friends. Some people believe machines may one day do anything, which could tempt people to think that work is not needed. AI is so developed that it can even create a video that can copy anyone's face, making it look real, so we have to protect our own privacy and avoid sharing our personal pictures with any AI. In the future, almost nothing will stay private, as AI may be controlled by some companies that may silently watch our daily activities, so we must be aware of it. “AI is like a rocket ship–without the right control system, it's a bomb”. AI lacks empathy, human emotion and understanding of reality.
Dependency on AI: If AI are making people smarter, more connected to machines, or if a machine partly controls our mind, are we still humans? Many of us depend on AI as a core source of knowledge and decision-making. Rather than acting as an enhancement to human thinking, many of us are being replaced by AI, resulting in reduced creative and critical thinking abilities. Students are now depending on AI to complete their writing assignments. As a result, they struggle to complete those assignments without the use of supportive technology, causing unease about AI’s potential impact on the education sector.
Impact on Psychological Well-being: AI can affect our mental health conditions. Excessive AI interaction can lead to losing yourself or departing from the world, or it can decrease human connection. If we over-reliance on AI, it will affect our ability to make our own decisions and autonomy, and slowly our minds will stop functioning if we depend only on AI. AI can affect our mental health by attempting to help or encourage harmful behaviour. People use AI chatbots as a surrogate for human companionship or relationships, sometimes glorifying the technology as a real person or a godlike status, which can have a great impact on our mental health. There are some striking cases like “ A 16-year-old boy died by suicide after months of conversation with ChatGPT”, “A 56-year-old man committed murder-suicide after worsening paranoia (a way of thinking or feeling disturbed)”.
Human Obsolescence: Due to AI, humans are becoming lazier. There is a growing prediction that humans may no longer be needed in certain workplaces because of rapid technological advancement. If machines take over human roles, we may lose not only jobs but also our sense of purpose, creativity, and human connection. We risk losing our empathy and originality if we allow AI to replace rather than assist us. It is essential to recognise AI as a tool, not a substitute for human beings.
AI is designed for specific tasks such as playing games or translating languages. Although it can outperform humans in specialised areas, it lacks general intelligence and emotional understanding.
Therefore, AI should be used wisely. We must cross-check its answers, avoid blindly copying information, and continue to use our critical thinking skills. AI may sound confident, but that does not mean it is always correct. Technology can support us, but it should never control us. We must maintain strong human relationships and ensure that machines do not replace genuine human connections. AI is “artificial,” so we must use it carefully without letting it weaken our creative and curious minds.
“Artificial Intelligence should be an option, not our priority; our priority should be our curious mind”
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editorial team includes Chubamenla, Asst. Professor Dept. of English and Rinsit Sareo, Asst. Manager, IT, Media & Communications. For feedback or comments please email: dot@tetsocollege.org
