How Artificial Intelligence Invisibly Weakens Our Brain and What to Do About It

By 2025, artificial intelligence in Spain has moved beyond the realm of science fiction and become a part of daily life. Neural networks now help map out the perfect itinerary for a trip through Andalucía, suggest a paella recipe for dinner, draft business correspondence, and even create music. This technological revolution has undoubtedly made many aspects of our lives simpler and more efficient. Yet behind the dazzling convenience lies a less obvious, but far more serious problem—one that concerns our most valuable asset: our cognitive abilities.

The problem lies in a fundamental property of the human mind: we are wired to conserve energy. Our brains are always searching for shortcuts and prefer to avoid unnecessary effort. When we have a tool on hand that instantly provides answers—whether it’s a historical date or the solution to a tricky logic puzzle—it’s only natural to use it. Gradually, we delegate to machines those functions we have carried out for centuries: memorizing information, analyzing data, thinking critically, and even creative exploration. We’re offloading our mental ‘RAM,’ but at what cost?

Imagine an athlete who, instead of daily training, starts using an exoskeleton for all movements. Deprived of physical stress, his muscles will soon weaken and atrophy. Something similar happens to our mental faculties. Neural connections responsible for memory, logic, and concentration are strengthened only through regular use. When we delegate these tasks to algorithms, we essentially stop “training.” The gradual decline in cognitive skills often goes unnoticed at first. Initially, it becomes a bit harder to remember a phone number without an address book, then to keep track of project details at work, and over time, even the ability for deep, independent analysis may suffer.

This does not mean we should declare war on technology and return to the Stone Age. Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool that can complement our abilities, rather than completely replace them. It can free up time from routine tasks for more creative and strategic work, and reduce stress and anxiety levels. The key to a healthy balance lies in mindfulness. It is important to recognize when technology is truly helping, and when it is simply catering to our natural laziness, depriving us of valuable mental exercise.

To assess how much digital assistants impact your life, try a small but telling experiment. This simple exercise will help you look at your habits from a different perspective and draw conclusions. All you need is a notebook, a pen, and a bit of attentiveness over the next week.

Every day, starting today, try to record every instance where you turn to neural networks. Write down each situation: when you used AI, for what purpose, and what you got as a result. Ask yourself: did this action save me time on routine tasks, or did it spare me from thinking for myself? Did the algorithm speed up the process, or did it simply do all the intellectual work for me? Honest self-reflection is the key to this task.

After seven days, you’ll have a unique diary of your interactions with technology. By analyzing it, you will clearly see the role AI plays in your work, studies, and creativity. The aim of this challenge is not to abandon useful tools, but to learn to manage them while retaining the most important thing—the right to think.