GenAI and the risk to critical thinking

GenAI is thought of as a tool capable of enhancing or augmenting human creativity. That is, GenAI uses machine learning models (LLMs) to learn patterns from existing data, both structured and unstructured, to generate new and innovative content. But the full benefits from using AI as a tool may depend on the complexity of the task at hand as well as the users' educational attainment. For example, studies have found that with higher education levels there's greater scepticism toward AI outputs, where scepticism is an element of critical thinking*. Yet the LLMs, such as ChatGPT, have become immensely popular because the models respond to user prompts in a conversational way generating text, images, music, and so on. But is GenAI tool usage capable of substituting, rather than improving human creativity? An online sample study of some 600 participants in the UK, showed that with people employing GenAI tools as substitutes, and not supplements to routine tasks, there is a 'significant negative correlation between the frequent use of AI tools and critical thinking abilities'. Similarly, in another study, it was found that AI offers speed and efficiency but risks inhibiting or reducing independent thought. Psychologists call it cognitive offloading when GenAI, offers users "good enough" outcomes that can be attained with minimal effort**.  Yet, GenAI is not a proxy for human agency. It has to be told, via prompts to incorporate critical thinking. And so, while GenAI may enhance creativity it cannot be expected to facilitate critical thinking. * The term critical comes from the Greek word kritikos meaning “able to judge or discern”. ** https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-art-of-critical-thinking/202512/is-generative-ai-rewiring-our-brains-heres-how-it-happens