Does AI make us smarter or not? It depends on how we use it
Information AgeFrom: Science News Explores · rewritten for kids by Osmo
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AI can now write essays, plan meals and draft emails, and some headlines warn it will make people lazy. Behavioural scientist Trent Cash of the University of Waterloo in Canada says the truth lies between the best and worst predictions. New data show that what matters is the type of AI tool and how it is used. If we hand a skill over to AI completely, we probably will not keep that skill well. But staying engaged, by learning from AI's feedback or examples, may actually build our skills. As Cash puts it, humans are resilient, but staying sharp takes effort on our part.
Big word
resilient: Able to bounce back and stay strong when things change.
Quiz time: circle the right answer
1. When can AI help our skills grow?AWhen it does all the workBWhen we learn from its feedbackCNever
2. When does AI most likely weaken our skills?AWhen it simply does the work for usBWhen we learn from its examplesCWhen we read books
3. Where does Trent Cash work?AUniversity of Waterloo in CanadaBA rocket companyCA zoo
Your turn
Think of one thing you want to get better at. Write how a computer helper could help you learn it, without doing it for you.
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