ChatGPT could be silently rewiring your brain as experts urge caution for long-term use

ChatGPT could be silently rewiring your brain as experts urge caution for long-term use

Participants who relied on AI for writing tasks exhibited weaker neural connectivity over four-month period

Using ChatGPT on a long-term basis could have negative effects on brain function, according to a study led by MIT. (iStock)

Using a large language model (LLM) to write multiple essays over a four-month period could hamper cognitive abilities, researchers concluded. (iStock)

One group in the study used ChatGPT, an LLM product made by OpenAI, to write essays. (Idrees Abbas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

During each session, the researchers recorded the participants’ brain activity using an EEG monitor to assess their "cognitive engagement and cognitive load" and to determine their neural activity. (iStock)

"When people with strong foundational skills later used ChatGPT, they showed enhanced connectivity," an expert noted. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)