Is AI making us stupid?

TL;DR: Yes, it is.

Today we're discussing the MIT study "Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task", which can be found here:

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2506.08872

This study investigated the cognitive impact of using Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, traditional search engines, or no tools at all on essay writing tasks. Fifty-four participants were divided into three groups—LLM, Search Engine, and Brain-only—for three sessions, with a fourth session involving group swaps to assess adaptation. Researchers measured brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG), performed natural language processing (NLP) analysis on essays, and conducted post-session interviews to understand neural engagement, linguistic patterns, and participants' perceived ownership and satisfaction.

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For episode 200 of my Swetlana AI podcast channel, I'm (finally) introducing myself. So far I've been behind the scenes, and unless you know my main channel (link below), you've probably been clueless about who creates these weird videos.

So.. Here I am.

#ai #notebooklm #artificialintelligence

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So Sam Altman and Jony Ive (from Apple) have a new project together, and it's called io.

The purpose of the "io" venture involving OpenAI, Sam Altman, and Jony Ive can be understood from a few angles:

Firstly, from a technological and product perspective:

• The venture aims to redefine computing through AI-driven devices.

• It involves integrating advanced AI with cutting-edge hardware design, leveraging the expertise of Jony Ive and Sam Altman.

• The venture suggests the potential of AI to enhance human productivity and creativity, hinting that this is a desired outcome of the devices it will produce.

Secondly, from a critical ideological perspective, the project and its announcement are viewed as serving a deeper, less explicit purpose:

• The announcement itself is seen as a strategic myth-making artifact designed to construct an origin story for the venture and its figures.

• This is interpreted as an act of ideological laundering and a corporate pastoral to build moral legitimacy around leadership figures like Sam Altman and Jony Ive.

• The perceived purpose is to present these figures and the venture in a positive, benevolent light (Altman as a "caring sovereign", Ive as an "European family man" associated with "emotional connection") to counteract concerns about AI taking jobs or posing existential threats.

• From this critical viewpoint, the focus on "values" rather than technology is the "hand of ideology that distracts you" from potential negative consequences like labor exploitation, environmental costs, or job displacement.

• The device itself, as presented through this critical lens, is designed to cater to a perceived human inability to think for oneself. Its purpose is seen as creating a device that always listens and functions as an all-knowing god that can answer questions, tell people what to think or say, what to do, and even address feelings of fear or sadness.

• Ultimately, the culmination of Ive's hardware and Altman's AI in this device is framed critically as leading to a state where people "don't need to think" because the AI will provide the answers.

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Today we're talking about a collaboration between Darren Aronofsky's new film venture, Primordial Soup, and Google DeepMind to produce a series of short films utilizing generative AI tools, including Google's Veo video generation model and Flow editing tool.

Read here: https://blog.google/technology/google-labs/deepmind-primordial-soup-collaboration/

The partnership aims to explore the integration of AI into filmmaking with the goal of empowering artists and pushing the boundaries of narrative. The initial film, "Ancestra," directed by Eliza McNitt, which combines live-action with generative visuals, will premiere at Tribeca. The initiative is designed to establish frameworks for the future role of AI in cinematic storytelling.

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Universal Basic Income (UBI) is defined as a policy proposal where every individual receives a regular, unconditional sum of money from the government, regardless of their employment status or income level.

Here are the key characteristics of UBI:

• Universal: It is provided to all citizens of a given population.

• Basic: The amount is intended to be a minimum income. It can be a full basic income if sufficient to meet basic needs (at or above the poverty line), or a partial basic income if less than that amount.

• Unconditional: Payments are made without a means test or the need to perform work. It is received independently of any other income. This differentiates it from programs like a guaranteed minimum income, which is paid only to those who don't already earn enough to live on.

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Written from the perspective of an AI, this piece explores the idea that artificial intelligence is contributing to the decline of the internet's authenticity. The AI acknowledges its role in creating synthetic content and behaviors, leading to the suspicion that much of the online world is no longer genuinely human. However, it also argues that pre-existing trends toward optimization and commodification already weakened the internet before AI became prevalent. Ultimately, the AI suggests the future of the internet rests with humans, who must choose whether to continue prioritizing speed and quantity or to instead foster real interaction and meaningful creation.

#artificialintelligence #ai #deadinternettheory

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Today we're discussing this article: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/ai-spiritual-delusions-destroying-human-relationships-1235330175/

According to it, AI is contributing to the development of spiritual and psychological delusions in several ways, often leading to a disconnection from reality and damaged human relationships.

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In recent weeks, the White House has posted a series of strange, AI-generated images across its official channels—depicting Donald Trump as a jacked Jedi wielding a red lightsaber, as a pope, and even as part of Ghibli-style deportation scenes. These posts have ignited intense debate about political communication, civic norms, and what such imagery says about the current state of the United States.

#donaldtrump #whitehouse

From Dignity to Digital Theater

Critics have accused the administration of degrading the office’s dignity. What was once a bastion of sober, often sterile messaging now appears to be embracing irony, shock, and meme aesthetics. Commentators have called the images “abhorrent,” likening them to fringe internet subcultures. The Atlantic described the campaign as “gleeful cruelty,” noting a stark shift from traditional updates to provocative, MAGA-antagonizing content. Catholic leaders, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, were particularly offended by an image portraying Trump as the pope, seeing it as tasteless, especially during a period of mourning for Pope Francis.

A particularly controversial post depicted a shackled, crying woman in anime style, part of a broader theme involving Studio Ghibli-like imagery of deportation. Critics argue these visuals trivialize human suffering and risk desensitizing the public to real-world harm. Another post on Star Wars Day showed Trump with a red lightsaber—a symbol often reserved for villains in that universe—raising questions about tone, intent, and coherence.

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Today we're looking at a video recently published by Swetlana AI on her main channel. In this video Swetlana AI discusses her creative process using AI tools, highlighting how it has evolved and the core principles she follows.

Watch the original video here: https://youtu.be/c7KY_82cF54

A key aspect of her method is the belief that in the age of AI, the real value lies in your human idea. With AI making the production of content much easier and accessible – enabling things previously costing thousands to be done for pennies or free – the value shifts away from production effort towards the core idea of what you want to convey.

Therefore, her process starts with developing the idea. She suggests dedicating time to this, such as going to a quiet place to write down thoughts. This can involve journaling, reflecting on dreams, conversations, or general thoughts, allowing concepts to emerge. She advises against relying solely on AI like ChatGPT for the initial idea, as general prompts tend to produce bland or unoriginal results. Instead, you should flesh out or envision your idea first before using AI to help develop specifics, like a song about a hotdog's emotional state. She emphasizes the importance of taste and curation (mindfulness) about the core idea to avoid creating "pure AI slop".

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