Protecting Human Cognition in the Age of AI

TL;DR

This paper reviews how Generative AI impacts human cognition, especially in education, and discusses ways to redesign learning experiences to enhance critical thinking and cognitive skills.

Contribution

It synthesizes literature on GenAI's effects on cognition and offers implications for educational design to foster critical thinking.

Findings

GenAI influences various cognitive abilities.

Novices are particularly vulnerable to cognitive impacts.

Educational strategies can mitigate negative effects and promote deeper engagement.

Abstract

The rapid adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) is significantly reshaping human cognition, influencing how we engage with information, think, reason, and learn. This paper synthesizes existing literature on GenAI's effects on different aspects of human cognition. Drawing on Krathwohl's revised Bloom's Taxonomy and Dewey's conceptualization of reflective thought, we examine the mechanisms through which GenAI is affecting the development of different cognitive abilities. We focus on novices, such as students, who may lack both domain knowledge and an understanding of effective human-AI interaction. Accordingly, we provide implications for rethinking and designing educational experiences that foster critical thinking and deeper cognitive engagement.