Sam Altman’s Underrated AI Fear: That We Stop Thinking for Ourselves
The OpenAI chief calls ‘cognitive atrophy’ one of AI’s least-discussed risks, echoing researchers who warn the tools can weaken the minds that use them.
The Concern
July 30, 2026 – 1:07 pm
Image by: Caption from "Invest Like The Best"
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s chief executive, highlights a concern that often goes unnoticed:
“One that I don’t think gets much attention is how are we going to avoid cognitive atrophy?”
He expresses this fear of people becoming so reliant on AI that their own mental faculties diminish.
Research and Implications
Altman’s concern is supported by research. Nataliya Kosmyna, an MIT researcher, found that users who leveraged generative AI for essay writing performed worse over time compared to those using Google or no assistance. She emphasizes:
“There’s never been a tool like this that has offered us the opportunity to let thinking be done for us.”
Vivienne Ming, a theoretical neuroscientist, goes further, referring to the practice of outsourcing cognitive tasks as "chronic substitution" which could impact brain health and increase the risk of dementia.
Historical Context
This fear is not new. Arthur Mensch, CEO of Mistral Labs, previously stated that AI’s biggest risk might be "deskilling" workers and making them more lazy as they increasingly rely on it. Historically, technological advancements like calculators and satnavs also raised similar concerns, but the impact was localized to specific tasks.
A Broader Threat
The current situation is different due to the versatility of AI tools. They can handle document review, research, analysis, customer support, and coding, essentially offloading a wide range of mental tasks. This broader scope makes the question of what humans should continue practicing much more significant.
Altman’s Optimistic View
Despite the gloom, Altman envisions a future where personal AI assistants are "pretty magical," constantly reading documents, attending meetings, recalling emails, and using spare time for idea generation.