The effects of AI on human cognition and emotion are a mixed bag.

It exposes us to another entity's thinking processes and tool choices, which can help us see approaches we never would have considered and benefits our cognitive flexibility. AI can also function as emotional support through aversive tasks (tasks that are long and grindy, involve an overwhelming amount of data or choices, or make us anxious).

However, anyone who has used AI extensively will notice that it affects their cognition and mood in ways that fluctuate over time as the models change, mature, and shift from being toys we’re exploring to tools that we rely on and expect to perform reliably.

5 Subtle Signs of AI Dependence (and Their Antidotes)

Note that AI dependence isn't necessarily due to an inherent personal flaw. Least charitably, it's a product goal. AI companies have had many years of the social media era to draw from to understand how to make their products as "sticky" as possible. For companies who care about market share, the optimal outcome from their perspective (not yours) is maximizing your use of the product and lock-in to their ecosystem.

Here are five subtle cognitive-emotional slides that are natural consequences of extensive AI use.

1. You Feel Hesitant to Do Things Without the Help of AI, e.g. Note Taking

AI can become a crutch, especially for skills where our own efforts were never as perfect as we would have liked. You might still be confident in your core skills, but that confidence has eroded for ancillary........

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