Is AI Making Us Worse at Being Human? Who Thinks, Who Decides, and Who Thrives in the Age of AI

As artificial intelligence takes on more cognitive work, from writing and analysis to decision-making, the role of the human mind is shifting. Those who know how to work with AI effectively are accelerating and compounding their advantage. But most are defaulting to more passive use, relying on systems that optimize for speed and fluency, not depth or judgment. At the same time, the conditions of the digital age (constant information, instant answers, and algorithmic shortcuts) are reshaping attention, critical thinking, and our ability to reason independently. This raises a deeper, more consequential question, not just about what AI can do, but what happens to us as we use it.