Why AI Can’t Replace Human Thought
By Katie Trowbridge, M.Ed
CEO Curiosity 2 Create
I’m not anti-AI. I use it to write, teach, and do research. I’ve watched it summarize data for my Ed.D. faster than I can refill my tea. It’s impressive.
But here’s what worries me: we’re so dazzled by what AI can do that we’re forgetting what humans must do. And that forgetting? It’s quietly eroding our ability to be curious and think creatively and critically.
Recent studies reveal a troubling trend: overreliance on AI is linked to cognitive decline. It’s not just automating our tasks, it’s outsourcing our thinking. We’re teaching a generation to rely on tools without sharpening the most important one: their minds.
This isn’t just an education issue; it’s a leadership crisis. I see it in classrooms and boardrooms: the growing use of copy-paste communication, auto-generated answers, and a rush to efficiency over insight. We may be moving faster, but are we thinking and connecting better?
Deeper thinking—curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, connection—allows us to lead through uncertainty and build resilient, thoughtful teams. But when we lean on AI without intention, we risk trading discernment for convenience. In doing so, we weaken the very skills that make us human.
President Trump’s recent executive order calls for stronger AI literacy across schools and workplaces. But we must also promote collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, and ensure that our students are ready for the constantly changing workforce. We need to make sure we teach them to challenge AI’s output. To ask challenging and bold questions. To use AI as a launchpad, not a lifeboat.
AI is here to stay. But the future won’t belong to those who simply use it, it will belong to those who think with it. That means reimagining how we lead and how we learn. It means teaching with purpose, leading with reflection, and protecting the irreplaceable power of the human mind.
Efficiency is useful. But a generation of curious, creative, and critical thinkers? That’s how we build a future that’s not just fast, but wise.
Zhai, C., Wibowo, S. & Li, L.D. The effects of over-reliance on AI dialogue systems on students’ cognitive abilities: a systematic review. Smart Learn. Environ. 11, 28 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00316-7
