Can AI dull human brain? Doctor warns of impact on memory, language and recall

Amid the AI rat race, a neurologist warns against over-relying on AI tools in daily lives. Here's how it may impact children and adults.

Constant usage of artificial intelligence (AI) might adversely impact the human brain in the long run. While doctors warn that AI might not be damaging to the brain itself, concerns arise when one depends on AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok and others, for every activity, thereby preventing them from making independent decisions.

Effects of AI tools on human brain

Dr Girish Nair, senior consultant, neurology at Apollo Navi Mumbai, told Livemint, "When we understand something properly, we do more than just read it. We process it, question it, connect it to what we already know and then form our own understanding. If AI gives us a ready-made summary every time, we may save time, but we are also doing less of that mental work ourselves."

What is cognitive offloading?

In medical terms, this is called cognitive offloading. Cognitive offloading is the usage of an external tool to reduce the mental processing demand of a task.

There is nothing wrong with seeking external help in our lives, such as using calculators, taking notes and relying on search engines. The problem begins once an individual stops making the effort to pause, think, analyse and solve a problem on their own.

Constant AI use may hurt memory, decision-making, problem-solving

Complete dependence on AI tools may reduce the amount of practice we get in doing tasks ourselves. It is likely to impact one's working memory, recall, problem-solving, language skills and decision-making.

"Take something as simple as writing an email. If AI writes every email from the first sentence, we are doing less of the work involved in organising our thoughts, choosing the right words and deciding how we want to communicate.

"Getting an answer quickly is useful, but the brain also benefits from going through the steps needed to reach that answer," said Dr Nair.

Children at risk

According to him, the way AI is used by children particularly needs more attention than by adults.

Children continue to develop important cognitive skills such as attention, memory, problem-solving and self-control.

Using AI to explain a difficult concept after the child has tried and failed to understand it can be useful. However, if AI is regularly used in writing the homework, solving the maths problem or preparing the answer from the beginning, the child gets less opportunity to develop those skills independently, warns the doctor.

Should we stop using AI now?

However, this does not mean that one should immediately stop using AI tools.

"The important thing is how and when we use it. Try doing the first round yourself and then use AI to check your work, identify gaps or offer another perspective. That way, the brain remains actively involved," the neurologist said, offering a balanced approach.

About the Author

Sneha Biswas specialises in covering entertainment and pop culture, with a specialisation on Bollywood, Hollywood, OTT platforms, K-pop, K-dramas, and major developments in the US entertainment industry. She believes in telling stories that balance speed with substance, and in making entertainment journalism contextual, culturally aware, and reader-first rather than purely reactive.<br><br> With over six years of experience in digital media, Sneha currently serves as a Deputy Chief Content Producer at Live Mint. She has spent more than three and a half years with the HT Group and returned to the organisation in February 2025, joining Live Mint to uplift the entertainment section. Over the past year, she has been closely involved in entertainment coverage including breaking news, explainers, trend reporting, box office reports and analysis for the audience.<br><br> Sneha is Google News certified, having completed training focused on newsroom best practices, digital reporting, and SEO-driven content strategies. Her work reflects a strong understanding of audience behaviour, search trends, and the evolving consumption patterns of entertainment news across formats.<br><br> Prior to her current role, Sneha has worked across multiple content and editorial functions within digital newsrooms, building expertise in content planning, editing, and real-time coverage. Her professional interests lie at the intersection of entertainment, internet culture, and global pop trends.<br><br> Working for the National city team, Biswas closely follows global entertainment movements while maintaining a strong pulse on what is happening in India.