AI, but at what cost?

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I’ve just watched American businessman Mark Cuban, on NBC News, swearing that the usage of AI is how knowledge has been democratised and that there will be so much that the kids can do that their parents never could.

On the other hand, about a month ago, neuroscientist Jared Cooney reportedly told lawmakers that because of heavy reliance on smartphones and AI, GenZs will become the first generation in history to have lower IQs than their parents.

Some moons ago, I watched Steven Bartlett say that he had found that relying on AI puts us at risk of Brain Atrophy. The first time I heard about brain atrophy was in 2023 when my aunt’s bran scan was delivered. She had dementia and had also suffered a stroke, and because she was no longer actively using her brain, the scan showed that her brain tissue had started shrinking.

Now Mark Cuban isn’t wrong when he says that the new generation will be able to do things the older generations couldn’t, but at what cost? At least we know most of this will be auto-generated with little to no exercise of the brain muscle.

If our brains aren’t exercised, we risk losing more than just IQ. We risk our capacity to think deeply, solve problems, and create for ourselves. It also increases mental health risks, including anxiety, stress, and a sense of dependency on technology.

Caution: Protect your mind. Read, write, solve problems manually, play strategy games, and take breaks from screens. Use technology as a tool, not a replacement for thinking and emotional balance.

Written by

Nabuguzi. Kiwanuka

Lawyer. Founder, Director, CEO at Equate Foundation. Podcaster - Hash Time with Nabuguzi Kiwanuka. Drawer. Dance lover. Music lover. Risk-taker. Daily learner.

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