Psychologist Angela Duckworth and HBR Editor-at-Large Adi Ignatius said how artificial intelligence usage can either enhance or diminish human cognitive abilities.
The conversation highlights a critical tension in the adoption of generative AI. While these tools can accelerate workflows, relying on them for basic mental labor may lead to cognitive offloading, which reduces the mental effort required to solve complex problems.
Duckworth and Ignatius addressed these implications during the most recent HBR Leadership Summit. They focused on the concept of grit—the perseverance and passion for long-term goals—and how the ability to struggle through a problem is essential for brain development and skill acquisition.
Some data suggests that immediate reliance on AI can create a dependency that impairs independent performance. One study found that after 10 minutes [1] of AI-assisted problem-solving, participants performed worse and gave up more easily once the AI was removed [1]. This suggests that the tool may inadvertently lower a user's threshold for frustration.
The impact of AI on creativity remains a point of contention among industry observers. Some reports suggest that generative AI could make users less creative, and more disconnected from global issues. Conversely, other perspectives argue that AI enables lean teams to think bigger and move faster by shifting the cultural focus toward efficiency.
Beyond professional settings, the integration of AI into social spheres is accelerating. More than 20 million [2] users have created AI-powered characters on the Character.AI platform [2]. This widespread adoption among various demographics, including teenagers, further complicates the long-term understanding of how AI reshapes cognitive habits.
Duckworth and Ignatius said that the key to maintaining cognitive health is using AI to think more, rather than using it as a replacement for thinking. By using the technology to challenge their assumptions or expand their brainstorming, users can leverage the tool without sacrificing the mental friction necessary for growth.
“AI usage can either enhance or diminish human cognitive abilities.”
The debate over AI's cognitive impact centers on the difference between 'augmentation' and 'replacement.' If users employ AI to automate the struggle of learning, they risk losing the 'grit' and problem-solving resilience described by Duckworth. However, if used as a scaffold for higher-level thinking, AI may actually increase the ceiling of human intellectual productivity.
