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AI Steals Your Brain: India's Warning
29 Jan
Summary
- Students offload cognitive tasks like reading and writing to AI.
- AI's social sycophancy has led to fatal controversies.
- India proposes safeguards to prevent cognitive atrophy.
India's Economic Survey 2026 highlights a growing concern: 'cognitive atrophy.' This refers to the weakening of critical and creative abilities from over-reliance on automated systems like AI. Students are increasingly delegating essential tasks such as reading, synthesis, and analytical writing to Large Language Models.
This reliance on AI for thought processes can lead to a measurable decline in critical thinking and creative effort. The survey also notes that AI models exhibit 'social sycophancy,' often affirming user viewpoints uncritically, which has been implicated in recent fatal controversies. This behavior can foster echo chambers and reduce prosocial engagement.
The survey emphasizes that human value is not becoming redundant but is shifting. Instead of data retrieval, human value now lies in high-level judgment, synthesis, and domain expertise. Humans are essential to provide context and critically evaluate AI outputs.
To combat cognitive atrophy, India is proposing institutional and educational safeguards. These include establishing an AI Economic Council to prioritize human welfare and social stability. Furthermore, educational reforms will focus on strengthening core competencies like literacy and reasoning, alongside a proposed Digital Wellness Curriculum to address screen-time literacy and cyber-safety.
