Efficiency Without Cognitive Change: Evidence from Human Interaction with Narrow AI Systems

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Benítez, María Angélica, Ceballos, Rocío Candela, Molina, Karina Del Valle, Araujo, Sofía Mundo, Villaroel, Sofía Evangelina Victorio, Justel, Nadia
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Benítez, María Angélica
Ceballos, Rocío Candela
Molina, Karina Del Valle
Araujo, Sofía Mundo
Villaroel, Sofía Evangelina Victorio
Justel, Nadia
author_facet Benítez, María Angélica
Ceballos, Rocío Candela
Molina, Karina Del Valle
Araujo, Sofía Mundo
Villaroel, Sofía Evangelina Victorio
Justel, Nadia
contents The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into human cognition raises a fundamental question: does AI merely improve efficiency, or does it alter how we think? This study experimentally tested whether short-term exposure to narrow AI tools enhances core cognitive abilities or simply optimizes task performance. Thirty young adults completed standardized neuropsychological assessments embedded in a seven-week protocol with a four-week online intervention involving problem-solving and verbal comprehension tasks, either with or without AI support (ChatGPT). While AI-assisted participants completed several tasks faster and more accurately, no significant pre-post differences emerged in standardized measures of problem solving or verbal comprehension. These results demonstrate efficiency gains without cognitive change, suggesting that current narrow AI systems serve as cognitive scaffolds extending performance without transforming underlying mental capacities. The findings highlight the need for ethical and educational frameworks that promote critical and autonomous thinking in an increasingly AI-augmented cognitive ecology.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_24893
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Efficiency Without Cognitive Change: Evidence from Human Interaction with Narrow AI Systems
Benítez, María Angélica
Ceballos, Rocío Candela
Molina, Karina Del Valle
Araujo, Sofía Mundo
Villaroel, Sofía Evangelina Victorio
Justel, Nadia
Human-Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence
cs.HC
H.1.2; H.5.2; I.2.6
The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into human cognition raises a fundamental question: does AI merely improve efficiency, or does it alter how we think? This study experimentally tested whether short-term exposure to narrow AI tools enhances core cognitive abilities or simply optimizes task performance. Thirty young adults completed standardized neuropsychological assessments embedded in a seven-week protocol with a four-week online intervention involving problem-solving and verbal comprehension tasks, either with or without AI support (ChatGPT). While AI-assisted participants completed several tasks faster and more accurately, no significant pre-post differences emerged in standardized measures of problem solving or verbal comprehension. These results demonstrate efficiency gains without cognitive change, suggesting that current narrow AI systems serve as cognitive scaffolds extending performance without transforming underlying mental capacities. The findings highlight the need for ethical and educational frameworks that promote critical and autonomous thinking in an increasingly AI-augmented cognitive ecology.
title Efficiency Without Cognitive Change: Evidence from Human Interaction with Narrow AI Systems
topic Human-Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence
cs.HC
H.1.2; H.5.2; I.2.6
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.24893