Another Crazy Day in AI: The Cognitive Cost of Convenience

Wowza Team
Oct 17
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

Made it through the week? Perfect time for a read that stretches your thinking.

An independent researcher just released a deep study exploring how AI might already be changing how we process thoughts and make choices. It’s part science, part philosophy, and all very human.

Meanwhile, Google and PwC are thinking macro: how AI could help developing countries do more with less.

And to cap things off, Meta’s adding new parental controls so teens can talk to AIs safely (and parents can finally breathe a little easier).

Take the weekend to think — or not think — about it.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

When algorithms shape how we think
Google report shows how AI can power better public services
Meta introduces new tools to help parents manage teen AI use
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Minds in the Age of Algorithms

A robotic scientist in a classic white coat with 'AI Scientist' on its back stands beside a human scientist with 'Human Scientist' on their coat, looking towards the AI Scientist.

Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)

How much of our thinking still comes from us, and how much do we now outsource?

Independent researcher Rénald Gesnot has published a 127-page technical monograph examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping human cognition, thought patterns, and decision-making. Released as a working paper in July 2025 on arXiv, this research offers a careful, multidimensional look at how AI is influencing the way we think, reason, and engage with the world. Drawing from cognitive science, ethics, and social analysis, Gesnot explores both the advantages and the concerns tied to a growing reliance on intelligent systems in daily life.

The study discusses several major areas:

Cognitive offloading — AI makes it easier to handle complex tasks, but frequent reliance on it may reduce our engagement in reasoning, problem-solving, and memory retention.
Cognitive standardization — With more people depending on the same algorithms and datasets, human expression and creativity may become more uniform over time.
Algorithmic influence — Personalization systems determine much of what we see and read, subtly influencing preferences, opinions, and the range of ideas we encounter.
Artificial consciousness — The paper considers whether machines could one day demonstrate self-awareness, raising questions about moral responsibility and consciousness itself.
Human responsibility — Gesnot emphasizes the importance of education, transparency, and strong governance to preserve independent thought and intellectual diversity.

Gesnot’s paper doesn’t read like a warning, but more like an invitation to think carefully about how technology is changing the way we process information. He reminds readers that every tool, no matter how intelligent, comes with trade-offs. While AI helps us reason faster and explore ideas at scale, it may also make it easier to accept quick answers instead of working through complex questions ourselves. It’s a subtle but meaningful shift in how we define “thinking” — not just as producing ideas, but as understanding how they’re formed.

At a broader level, the study urges reflection on how shared systems influence shared understanding. If the same algorithms guide what billions of people read, write, and believe, the diversity of human thought could gradually thin out. Not through censorship, but through repetition — where convenience and familiarity quietly take the place of curiosity and exploration. Gesnot’s work points out that keeping thought diverse isn’t just a creative concern; it’s essential for how societies grow, challenge themselves, and adapt to change.

In the end, the paper leaves us with a quiet reminder rather than a conclusion. AI will keep evolving — that much is certain. What remains uncertain is how consciously we’ll shape our relationship with it. The future of thinking may depend less on what machines can do, and more on how willing we are to stay curious, to question, and to keep thinking for ourselves even as technology learns to do more of it with us.

Read the full paper here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Google Report Shows How AI Can Power Better Public Services

/Karan Bhatia, Global Head, Government Affairs & Public Policy, on Google Blogs - The Keyword

Google and PwC’s new AI Sprinters report outlines how developing countries can use AI to modernize public services, strengthen economies, and reduce fiscal burdens. The report identifies four readiness archetypes—from early “Explorers” to advanced “Leaders”—to help governments map their AI journeys. By leveraging AI to improve productivity, transparency, and inclusion, developing nations could reduce deficits by up to 22% and boost GDP by 4% by 2035. The findings highlight how AI can help governments leapfrog legacy systems and build stronger, more efficient institutions.

Another Crazy Day in AI: The Cognitive Cost of Convenience

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