A groundbreaking MIT study reveals that frequent use of ChatGPT may weaken brain activity, memory, and creativity, especially in younger users. Experts call for urgent education and regulation.

New Findings Reveal Troubling Link Between ChatGPT Use and Brain Function


In an age where artificial intelligence has seamlessly integrated into our daily routines—from writing emails to editing résumés—a new study has cast a disturbing light on what ChatGPT might be doing to our brains.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab have found that prolonged reliance on OpenAI’s chatbot may reduce brain engagement, diminish memory retention, and suppress creativity. The study, conducted over four months, focused on how AI use affects neurological and behavioural responses.

ChatGPT Users Show Lowest Brain Activity in Study


In the experiment, 54 participants aged 18 to 39 were split into three groups. One used ChatGPT, another used Google search, and the third had no access to technology at all. Each participant was tasked with writing SAT-style essays over several weeks.

After the assignments, all participants underwent electroencephalogram (EEG) scans to monitor electrical activity in the brain.

The results were stark. Those who relied on ChatGPT exhibited the lowest levels of brain stimulation. The data showed significantly reduced alpha and beta wave activity, which are associated with concentration, language processing, and decision-making.

"By the third essay, ChatGPT users were effectively outsourcing their thinking," said lead author Nataliya Kosmyna. “They copied full texts, edited slightly, and submitted the work. Their brains were disengaged.”

Long-Term Impact: Creativity and Memory at Risk


The most alarming conclusion, according to Kosmyna, was the lasting neurological impact. When AI users were asked to compose essays without help, their brainwaves remained muted, suggesting that the earlier tasks hadn’t registered deeply within their memory or cognitive framework.

“They couldn’t even remember what their essays were about,” Kosmyna told TIME. “Yes, the task was completed efficiently—but nothing had been integrated into the brain’s memory networks.”

Conversely, the group that worked without AI assistance showed stronger neural activity, especially in areas linked to creativity, word comprehension, and memory. The Google group also demonstrated meaningful brain engagement, although to a lesser extent.

ChatGPT and the Call for Regulation


Kosmyna's motivation for publishing the findings before full peer review was a fear that policymakers might soon push AI into early education settings. “Putting GPT in nurseries would be catastrophic for brain development,” she warned.

Her call to action is clear: “There must be robust education around AI use, especially for younger users. Our brains must continue developing in natural, analogue ways.”

The study has sparked widespread concern on social media. One user wrote on X, “We’re in a war for our humanity, and you're ruining your brain just to write an email.” Another added, “Great—ChatGPT is not only doing my work but stealing my brain cells.”

A Critical Moment for AI and Human Cognition


As ChatGPT becomes a daily tool for millions, researchers and educators are urging caution. The MIT study suggests that passive overreliance on generative AI may not just change the way we write—but fundamentally reshape how we think.

With artificial intelligence here to stay, the challenge now is to ensure its use enhances human intelligence rather than erodes it.