Short AI Use Linked to Problem-Solving Decline After Assistance Ends

A new academic study found that brief reliance on AI tools can impair mental skills. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, Oxford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology asked participants to use an intelligent assistant for roughly 10 minutes before removing the support during a final test phase. Those who used AI assistance performed better initially, but their results dropped noticeably once the support ended. Problem-solving success fell by up to 20 percent in this group compared with participants who did not use AI. The researchers also found that participants accustomed to AI support were twice as likely to skip or leave questions unanswered. Similar patterns appeared in reading comprehension tests. The study suggests that how AI tools are used affects the degree of impact on cognitive performance. The researchers noted that the method of interaction with AI plays a role in determining whether reliance on such tools helps or harms independent thinking.