Generative AI has revolutionized the way we work, offering incredible convenience. But with this convenience comes a risk: outsourcing our thinking to AI and losing the ability to think critically.
During a recent discussion with students from the University of Tokyo and Keio University, they asked how I use AI in my daily life. My answer surprised them: “I use ChatGPT almost every day, but honestly, I don’t treat AI as a tool to solve problems or summarize information for me. Doing so would be like outsourcing my brain.” While AI provides quick answers, over-relying on it can weaken our ability to think independently—a crucial skill in the AI era.
Seeing the students deep in thought, I added, “Instead, I take a different approach—I use ChatGPT to amplify my existing superpowers!”
In my view, a better way to use AI is to treat it as an expert brainstorming partner. This approach encourages us to analyze problems from multiple angles, leading to a more comprehensive understanding and a multidimensional analysis. It often sparks innovative solutions that we might not have considered otherwise.
The key difference between outsourcing your brain and engaging in brainstorming lies in the outcomes: the former causes our thinking skills to deteriorate, while the latter enhances creativity and critical thinking. By choosing to brainstorm rather than outsource, we’re actively protecting and cultivating our cognitive abilities.
In the AI era, learning to use AI to augment rather than replace our thinking is crucial for every professional. The depth and breadth of our thinking define our competitiveness in the workplace.
In any job, there’s rarely a single definitive answer to a decision or innovation. My experience has shown me that engaging in deep discussions with experts is often the best way to tackle problems. But realistically, most people don’t have the chance to regularly consult top experts in various fields. This is where AI can step in, acting as a resourceful expert that’s always available.
Learning to enhance, not replace, our thinking with AI is essential for staying competitive in a fast-changing world. Only by doing this can we maintain our mental sharpness and stay competitive and innovative in a rapidly changing world!
