From calculators to search engines, technology has always changed how people learn, solve problems and make decisions. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest step in that evolution, helping people find answers, complete tasks and generate ideas at lightning speed. But as these tools become more capable, is there a downside to delegating thinking itself to machines?
David McLaren, Enterprise Data & AI Leader at GHD, argues that staying sharp in an AI world isn’t about whether or not you use AI tools. It’s about using them intentionally to challenge assumptions, deepen understanding and strengthen critical thinking instead of outsourcing it. Drawing on personal experience and observations from the front lines of AI adoption, David explores a question many organisations are only just beginning to confront: could our most powerful thinking tools also weaken the skills they were designed to support?