Artificial intelligence was heralded as a tool to augment human experience, promising to make us more productive, insightful, and connected. As the technology matures, however, the central question is shifting from what AI can do to what it should do.

A growing body of research indicates that extensive use of AI chatbots may have unintended cognitive and social consequences, from impacting memory and learning abilities to exacerbating what public health experts call a“ loneliness epidemic.” In response to these findings and rising public scrutiny, industry leaders like OpenAI and Meta are implementing changes to bolster the safety and ethical alignment of their models. Yet as these platforms are integrated deeper into professional and personal workflows, a fundamental paradox emerges: can AI be engineered to solve the very problems its widespread adoption may be creating?

MIT study reveals AI’ s impact on cognitive engagement To quantify AI’ s impact on human cognitive abilities, MIT’ s Media Lab tracked 54 participants over several months, using electroencephalography( EEG) to measure brain activity during

148 October 2025

AI Magazine October 2025 | Page 148

Artificial intelligence was heralded as a tool to augment human experience, promising to make us more productive, insightful, and connected. As the technology matures, however, the central question is shifting from what AI can do to what it should do.