Since ChatGPT appeared almost three years ago, the impact of artificial
intelligence (AI) technologies on learning has been widely debated. Are they handy
tools for personalized education, or gateways to academic dishonesty?
Most importantly, there has been concern that using AI will lead to a widespread
“dumbing down” or decline in the ability to think critically.
If students use AI tools too early, the argument goes, they may not develop basic
skills for critical thinking and problem solving.
Is that really the case? According to a recent study by scientists from MIT, it
appears so. Using ChatGPT to help write essays, the researchers say, can lead to
“cognitive debt” and a “likely decrease in learning skills”.
Over the course of four months, the MIT team asked 54 adults to write a series of three essays using either AI (ChatGPT), a search engine, or their own brains (“brain only” group). The team measured cognitive engagement by examining electrical activity in the brain and through linguistic analysis of the essays.
The cognitive engagement of those who used AI was significantly lower than the
other two groups. This group also had a harder time recalling quotes from their
essays and felt a lower sense of ownership over them.
Current and future generations need to be able to think critically and creatively and
solve problems. However, AI is changing what these things mean.
Producing essays with pen and paper is no longer a demonstration of critical thinking ability.
Prioritizing which tasks can be offloaded to an AI to reduce cognitive debt is just as
important as understanding which tasks require genuine creativity and critical thinking.
MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology 麻省理工学院
rot v. 损害、腐蚀
impact n. 影响、作用
on learning 对学习方面的
debated /dɪˈbeɪtɪd/ 争论
handy /ˈhændi/ adj. 方便的
gateways to 通往…… 的途径、引发…… 的入口
academic dishonesty /ˌækəˈdemɪk dɪsˈɑːnɪsti/ 学术不端
concern n. 担忧、顾虑
widespread /ˈwaɪdspred/ adj. 广泛的；普遍的
dumbing down “思维退化、智力降低”
think critically 是固定搭配，— 批判性思考
the argument goes “有人认为、观点是”，插入语，用于引出他人或普遍的观点
develop 逐步形成、培养
Is that really the case? “情况真的是这样吗？
it appears so “似乎是这样、看起来确实如此”
cognitive debt “认知负债”，学术性术语 /ˈkɑːɡnətɪv/ adj.
likely decrease “可能的下降”， /dɪˈkriːs/
Over the course of “在…… 的过程中”
engagement /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/ 投入
linguistic analysis “语言分析” /lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪk/ adj. 语言的；语言学的
significantly lower “显著更低”
had a harder time recalling “更难回忆起”，“have a hard time doing sth” 为固定搭配
quotes from their essays 作文中的引语
sense of ownership “归属感”
over them “对它们而言”，over “针对、关于”
is changing what these things mean “正在改变这些能力的含义”
demonstration n. “体现、展示”，比 “show” 更正式 /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃn/
producing 撰写
Prioritizing /praɪˈɔːrətaɪzɪŋ/ “优先考虑、确定优先级
offload “转移、分担”
genuine /ˈdʒenjuɪn/ adj. 真正的；真诚的；真的
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