Are AI chatbots making us lose control of our brains?

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This week, I attended SXSW London, where the conversation was dominated by the latest developments in AI. I had the opportunity to sit down with Gloria Mark, a psychologist at the University of California, Irvine, who has spent the last 30 years studying how people interact with digital technologies. Mark's research has shown that our attention spans have been shrinking over the years, from two and a half minutes in 2003 to just 47 seconds between 2014 and 2020.

Mark's work involves setting up "living laboratories" to monitor adult volunteers' attention, mood, and behavior when using devices. Her findings are alarming: the constant switching of attention is stressful and can lead to decreased performance and emotional well-being. This is particularly concerning for children, who are growing up with these technologies and may be more susceptible to their negative effects.

The impact of social media on children is still unclear, with some studies suggesting it can have positive effects, such as providing a sense of belonging for marginalized groups. However, Mark notes that the evidence is "inconclusive," and more research is needed to understand the long-term effects. A large-scale study in Australia may provide some answers, as the country has recently enacted a social media ban for under-16s.

Mark is also concerned about the rise of AI chatbots, which can lead to a decline in critical thinking skills and emotional intelligence. When we rely on AI to perform tasks, such as evaluating or summarizing content, we're not engaging in "depth of processing," which is essential for learning and retaining information. This can lead to a weakening of our cognitive abilities over time, making us more susceptible to misinformation.

Mark's warnings are dire: if we continue on this trajectory, we can expect to see diminished attention spans, rising loneliness and boredom, and decreasing emotional intelligence and sense of purpose. However, she believes that we can course-correct by changing our relationship with these technologies and putting in more effort to engage with the world around us. The key, Mark says, is to make an effort to do things the old-fashioned way: read a book instead of skimming its summary, meet with friends in person, and try not to rely on GPS.

By doing so, we can create new life routines that prioritize depth of processing and human connection. As Mark says, "I love technology; we can't give it up. [But] we have to learn how to create new life routines."