🫠 Idiocracy
LLMs are getting really good…but learning stuff is also good…
What is happening?
I’ve seen a lot of hype around using AI for everything: solving problems effortlessly with instant access to the world’s knowledge and expertise at our fingertips. This is truly amazing, but it also opens the door for human nature and laziness to take over. Relying entirely on LLMs for understanding diminishes our ability to create new knowledge. Without a deep, fundamental grasp of what we’re actually doing, we risk losing the critical thinking needed to innovate and move forward. Put simply, those who leverage AI to accelerate their learning will surge ahead, while those who don’t will quickly fall behind.
A brief history of Lumosity
Lumosity was founded in 2005 by Michael Scanlon, Kunal Sarkar, and David Drescher, who sought to make brain training accessible and engaging for everyone. The idea emerged from a shared belief that the brain, like any other muscle, can be strengthened through targeted exercises. They built the platform to help users improve cognitive abilities like memory, attention, and problem-solving. Over time, Lumosity grew rapidly, leveraging neuroscience research to create a product that blended fun and functionality. The company’s success lies in its ability to gamify brain training, making cognitive enhancement both effective and engaging for millions…I guarantee platforms like Lumosity, DuoLingo and anything else that helps us learn will get substantially more valuable in the years to come.
Brain atrophy
As we increasingly rely on LLMs to handle complex thinking and decision-making, brain atrophy could become an unintended consequence. By offloading cognitive tasks to AI, we risk reducing our own mental engagement and the opportunity to exercise our brains. Over time, this lack of intellectual stimulation may lead to a decline in our cognitive abilities, weakening our capacity for critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Just as physical atrophy occurs when muscles aren’t used, brain atrophy may emerge from not actively engaging in thought and analysis. If we don’t intentionally challenge our minds, we could see a generation of individuals who, while technologically proficient, struggle with deeper cognitive processes as they become more reliant on AI.
The result…
Basically, a possible outcome here is the movie Idiocracy, where the average IQ of the human race dropped dramatically and everyone became a moron.
It’s clear that the future holds incredible promise. LLMs are rapidly transforming how we work, learn, and solve problems. But with this comes a critical responsibility to ensure we don’t lose sight of the human element, our ability to think deeply, challenge ourselves, and push the boundaries of innovation. The future is not just about using AI to make things easier; it’s about using it as a tool to accelerate our learning and creativity while still maintaining the intellectual rigor that defines our progress. We have already made our lives so easy that humans get wound up about truly meaningless things…everyone needs a purpose! I would hate to see that get worse…
What excites me is using AI to accelerate learning, not bypass it. We can build a future where our minds are sharper and more adaptable. The future is bright, and the possibilities are limitless if we continue to challenge ourselves, think critically, and use AI to amplify, not replace, our own cognitive growth.