Professor Søren Dinesen Østergaard, who previously warned about AI-induced psychosis, has issued another urgent caution regarding the cognitive risks posed by generative AI. In a letter published in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Østergaard argues that widespread reliance on AI for writing and reasoning is accruing a “cognitive debt” among intellectuals, particularly scientists. This debt represents the erosion of critical skills essential for scientific discovery, such as complex reasoning and original thought. He suggests that delegating these cognitive functions to AI tools could physically alter brain function, impairing users’ independent thinking capacity.
Østergaard’s concerns are supported by new research cited in his letter. A study published in Computers in Human Behavior found that while AI assistance can improve logical test scores, it also distorts users’ self-assessment of their abilities, indicating a disconnect between performance and awareness. Another preprint study entitled “Your brain on ChatGPT” attempts to quantify the neurological impact of using AI chatbots extensively. Østergaard highlights that even leading AI innovators might not have achieved their breakthroughs had AI tools been available early in their careers, implying a dependency that may undermine intellectual development in the long term.
This emerging evidence underscores the profound implications of generative AI on cognition and scientific progress. Østergaard’s warning—that if AI-induced cognitive debt continues unchecked, society could find itself in “dire straits”—calls for critical reflection on how AI integration affects human intellect, creativity, and the future of knowledge production.
