Researcher Marc Zao‑Sanders and his team analyzed more than 12,000 real-world AI use cases to determine how people use the technology in 2026 [1].
The findings suggest a fundamental shift in human interaction with artificial intelligence, moving away from personal growth and toward immediate utility and leisure. This trend highlights a growing reliance on AI to handle cognitive burdens rather than to enhance human capability.
Zao‑Sanders said people are increasingly turning to AI for practical help and entertainment, while self-improvement uses have fallen out of the top 10 [2]. Previous priorities, such as organizing life, finding purpose, and healthier living, no longer rank among the most frequent applications [3].
A significant portion of the research focuses on a phenomenon the team calls “thinkslop.” This describes the habit of asking AI to perform the thinking process on behalf of the user. Zao‑Sanders said more than a quarter of the top use cases involve this behavior [4].
The study analyzed worldwide data to understand the actual adoption of AI in everyday life [1]. The results indicate that the initial enthusiasm for using AI as a tool for self-betterment has waned, replaced by a preference for efficiency and entertainment [2].
By identifying these patterns, the research team aims to show how AI is integrating into the global workforce and home life. The rise of thinkslop suggests that users are not just automating repetitive tasks but are delegating critical thinking and decision-making to algorithms [4].
“More than a quarter of the top use cases involve asking AI to do some of our thinking for us”
The emergence of 'thinkslop' marks a transition from AI as a productivity assistant to AI as a cognitive surrogate. As users abandon self-improvement goals in favor of entertainment and outsourced thinking, the long-term impact may be a decline in critical thinking skills and personal agency in favor of algorithmic convenience.
