By Yael Mark
Outsourcing Our Knowledge
The digital age has brought with it new skills for humans to master at the cost of “traditional” ones, such as memory retention. The “Google Effect” refers to our tendency to forget information that can easily be found online. A 2008 study showed that the younger generation is highly proficient with technology but heavily leans on search engines for information. This generation tends to rely on visual aids rather than reading, and they often lack the critical and analytical skills to evaluate the information they retrieve online.
The Internet has become a primary form of external or transactive memory, where information is stored collectively outside ourselves. (“The Google Generation“; Rowlands et al., 2008)
A different study discovered that when individuals are faced with a complex question they have a lower rate of recalling the answer itself and instead an improved ability to recall where they can access it. In other words, our brains have outsourced knowledge and now prioritize excelling at locating it. This shift has changed our relationship with traditional information sources, such as libraries, which were much less accessible during debates over dinner. Before the advent of online search engines, we had the incentive to remember information that we found due to the time-consuming process of searching for it. Minimizing the effort required for this process directly affects our motivation to retain the information we should have learned.
The rise of GPS navigation systems has created a similar effect. These systems can calculate the fastest route to a certain destination better than humans. A 2020 study found that extensive use of GPS for navigation can worsen spatial memory during self-guided navigation. The so-called “Waze effect” has led to a decreased motivation to navigate on our own, even in familiar cities. At times, it causes users to question their own knowledge and over time can lead to forgetting how to navigate altogether. By minimizing the effort required to search for the best route based on outdated maps that lack current traffic information and road closures, it becomes nearly impossible to develop and maintain our navigation skills.
With the newest advancements in technology, are we heading towards the “ChatGPT effect?”
The ChatGPT Effect – Our Skills Are at Risk
“ChatGPT is a conversational AI language model developed by OpenAI that was launched this November [2022]. It uses deep learning techniques to generate text based on the input it receives, allowing it to carry out conversations with users on a wide range of topics” (ChatGPT answer to “What is ChatGPT?”).
The model has a variety of use cases and is especially competent when it comes to writing-related capabilities. “ChatGPT, can you summarize this article?”, “Can you rephrase this paragraph to use better vocabulary?”, “Can you find and fix my grammar mistakes?”. With the right request, the model can significantly accelerate writing speed, elevate wording style, and proofread any content.
As ChatGPT’s popularity increases, it will eliminate the language barrier in writing. Non-native English speakers can depend on the model to rectify their grammatical errors and restructure their text, making it sound more professional and coherent. Even for native English speakers, composing emails or presentations can be tedious and irksome, but this can be alleviated by addressing ChatGPT and requesting it to perform the task for them.
This great opportunity brings with it a neural challenge, as our ability to express ourselves deteriorates gradually, as our brain focuses on refining important skills and information. Why burden our brains with complex sentence structure when you can turn every street-grammar blurb into a well-written piece?
Recently, I realized that I was writing my article drafts with just enough clarity for ChatGPT to enhance them and create a polished text that accurately conveys my original thoughts. In the short run, this saves me and other users time that would have otherwise been spent on the routine aspects of writing, freeing us up to focus on more engaging ideas. However, if we cease to exercise our ability to express ourselves in writing, how reliant will we become on computers to do so on our behalf?
The OpenAI product’s assistance extends beyond writing skills to encompass various areas. It excels in brainstorming and idea generation for projects, proposals, and research topics. Leveraging its extensive knowledge across diverse domains, ChatGPT provides a wealth of perspectives, proposes innovative approaches, and expands the range of possibilities. In comparison to human counterparts such as researchers and consultants, ChatGPT’s brainstorming capabilities could surpass those of any individual. However, it’s important to consider that relying on ChatGPT for brainstorming may inadvertently impede the ability of human beings to sharpen each other’s ideas and think creatively. By opting for the convenience and speed of ChatGPT, we run the risk of diminishing our own capacity for collaborative thinking and nurturing originality.
One could argue that our dependence on ChatGPT wouldn’t be materially different from our reliance on Google. Still, there is a distinction: when we use Google, we ask for relevant information to address a specific question or task, whereas when engaging with AI language models, we seek the answer itself. If we stop practicing and don’t improve our learning skills as we assume the solution is a chat message away, what would happen when we’re disconnected? Real-world problems don’t always occur when our phones are at hand.
An AI assistant like ChatGPT has great potential, but it may also lead to the “ChatGPT Effect” where our brains become less motivated to maintain daily skills that are handled by AI. In light of how past technologies have changed us, it’s important to be aware of the possible impacts of using ChatGPT and to preserve our writing and ideation or expression skills. Continuing to practice writing and viewing each correction as a learning opportunity can help us use ChatGPT to enhance our abilities, rather than having it replace them. By using ChatGPT as a tool to build our skills, and not only as a writing robot who does our dirty work, we can embrace the technology as wings that can build our flying muscle, rather than a parachute that atrophies it.
This article was edited by Carina Müller
